NCAA board backs compensation plan
The NCAA is moving forward with a plan to allow college athletes to earn money for endorsements and a host of other activities involving personal appearances and social media content.
The NCAA announced Wednesday that its Board of Governors supports permitting athletes to cash in on their names, images and likenesses as never before and without involvement from the association, schools or conferences.
Ohio State President and board chairman Michael Drake called it an “unprecedented” move by the NCAA.
The next step is for membership to draft legislation by Oct. 30. A vote will be taken by schools at the next convention in January and new rules will go into effect no later than the 2021-22 academic year.
“NCAA membership schools have embraced very real change,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said.
The nation’s largest governing body for college sports said it will still seek a federal law to keep individual states from passing their owns laws on compensation for college athletes.
The board reviewed detailed recommendations put forth by a working group led by Ohio State AD Gene Smith and Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman. The recommendations open the door for athletes to make money on everything from autograph signings and memorabilia sales to signing endorsement deals with companies large and small.
College athletes will not be allowed to use their schools’ logos or markings in any sponsorship deals, but they will be permitted to use agent representation in making any deals.
The NCAA fought against allowing athletes to be compensated for name, image and likeness for years.
The need for change now was sped up by pressure from state lawmakers.