The NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors took a firm step Thursday in reshaping how name, image and likeness (NIL) deals are handled, approving two rules that could dramatically alter recruiting and roster building.
No Guaranteed Payments: Schools can no longer promise to cover a player if a collective fails to pay. That practice—used by some programs to secure commitments—will now count against an institution’s spending cap.
Proof of Activation: Collectives and boosters must now provide a specific deliverable, such as an ad, appearance, or promotion, for every NIL payment. The era of “warehousing” players with upfront money and vague future promises is over.