Athletes at the University of Nebraska are under investigation by the College Sports Commission (CSC) over possible Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) violations. The investigation started in January and centers on whether these athletes failed to report their NIL deals through the required NIL Go system.
This is all part of a bigger push by the CSC to enforce the House v. NCAA settlement rules. Under those rules, Division I athletes have to disclose any NIL deal over $600.
The CSC wants to make sure these deals are above board and not just a cover for pay-for-play schemes. It’s a lot of scrutiny, but that’s the landscape now.
Background on NIL Regulations and CSC’s Role
The College Sports Commission came about to enforce the House v. NCAA settlement rules. Those rules say every Division I athlete needs to report NIL deals through a software platform called NIL Go.
The CSC and outside lawyers look at these deals to make sure they’re fair and actually serve a business purpose. It’s not just paperwork—they’re really digging in.
Back in January, CSC’s head of investigations, Katie Medearis, notified Nebraska’s athletic director Troy Dannen about the probe into Huskers athletes. The main issue? Whether athletes skipped reporting one or more NIL deals.
This is just one of several similar investigations popping up at other schools. It’s not just Nebraska in the hot seat.
Details of the Nebraska Investigation
An email thread, uncovered through a public records request, spills more details on what’s happening at Nebraska. On January 15, Katie Medearis reached out to Troy Dannen and asked for a phone call to talk things over.
About two weeks later, Nebraska’s senior associate athletic director for compliance, Patty Peterson, replied with some updates. She said two athletes had added more info into NIL Go, explaining there was some confusion about when and how to report certain deals.
CSC senior investigator Shawn Vorndran then asked about another deal with a company—though the specifics were redacted. Jonathan Bateman, Nebraska’s associate athletic director for administration, confirmed those deals existed and were submitted.
It’s still not clear whether the investigation is closed. Nebraska officials haven’t said much, which, honestly, isn’t surprising.
Implications for Nebraska and Other Schools
Nebraska is the second school caught up in this early wave of CSC inquiries. The first was LSU, where an athlete (not from football) was investigated.
That LSU case wrapped up quietly, with no punishment handed out. The CSC seems more interested in fixing reporting gaps than in heavy-handed penalties—at least for now.
Interestingly, the CSC is hiring more investigators, including attorneys and former law enforcement folks. They’re bulking up their team, but there’s still some fuzziness about how much power the CSC actually has.
Schools haven’t signed any binding agreement yet, so it’s all a bit up in the air. That uncertainty is kind of hanging over the whole process.
Future of NIL Regulations and CSC’s Enforcement
With more investigations and a growing team, the CSC isn’t sitting still. But without a signed participant agreement, their real authority is still a question mark.
If you’re an athlete or work with them, the main thing is to stay on top of NIL reporting. Messing that up can bring unwanted attention—and maybe worse down the line.
The CSC’s processes are still evolving, and nobody wants to be the cautionary tale. Schools really need to keep educating their athletes about compliance, or they might find themselves in the same situation as Nebraska.
The investigation into Nebraska athletes shows just how tangled NIL regulations can get. The CSC is trying to make sure everyone follows the rules, but without a binding participant agreement, things feel a bit up in the air.
Schools and athletes really need to keep things transparent and stick to NIL reporting rules. Otherwise, they could end up under the microscope—or worse, facing penalties.
For more details, check out the full article on Front Office Sports.
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