LSU and the College Sports Commission (CSC) have just wrapped up a potential rules violation involving unreported name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. The whole thing took just over two weeks and, in the end, no disciplinary action was taken.
It’s the first time a major athletic program has been under the CSC’s microscope. That alone says a lot about how college sports and player compensation are changing right now.
The investigation centered on an LSU athlete who might not have reported third-party NIL deals. Under the new rules from the House settlement, that’s a must.
The CSC Inquiry: A Closer Look
CSC kicked off its investigation into LSU on January 15. Katie Medearis, who heads up investigations at CSC, sent LSU a notice about a possible issue with unreported third-party NIL deals.
The details got out through a records request, and everything was settled in just 18 days. That’s pretty quick, all things considered.
Details of the Investigation
Zach Greenwell, LSU’s deputy athletic director for external affairs, said the matter was closed with no penalties. Any NIL deals that needed to go through NIL Go—the clearinghouse—were handled as required.
LSU officials expressed appreciation for how quickly CSC wrapped things up. Notably, the football program wasn’t part of the investigation.
This is all part of a larger push by the CSC to make sure schools are sticking to the new NIL rules. They’re definitely not letting things slide.
The Role of NIL Go in College Sports
NIL Go exists to keep tabs on NIL deals in college sports. Thanks to the House settlement, any deal over $600 has to get NIL Go’s stamp of approval.
The clearinghouse checks if deals make business sense and if the compensation is in the right ballpark. It’s supposed to keep things transparent and prevent shady dealings.
Ensuring Compliance
CSC’s job is to watch how schools spend and to double-check NIL deals between athletes and outside parties. The power conferences created the CSC last year as part of the House settlement.
It’s a big responsibility, but someone has to make sure things stay fair and aboveboard in college sports.
Impact on Other Schools
LSU isn’t alone here. Other schools have gotten similar letters from the CSC about unreported NIL agreements.
It’s clear the CSC is serious about enforcing the new rules, and schools everywhere are on notice.
Conclusion
The CSC wrapped up its inquiry into LSU’s unreported NIL deals pretty quickly. Honestly, it’s a sign that the new enforcement framework from the House settlement is working.
Making sure schools actually report NIL deals matters. The CSC’s job here really helps keep college sports on the level.
Other schools are probably feeling the heat too. Transparency and sticking to the NIL rules—yeah, that’s going to stay important.
Want to dig deeper? You can check out the full story on NOLA.com.
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