Back to the Wisconsin Badgers Newsfeed

‘Billion dollar industry.’ Moran bill enables college athletes to profit off of likeness

Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran announced a proposal Wednesday to allow college athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness.

The bill is one of several pending in Congress that seek to remedy what critics see as unfair and outdated arrangement. Student-athletes are barred from making endorsement deals even as their success enables universities and the NCAA to rake in millions from ticket sales, TV contracts and corporate sponsors.

“It is no secret that college athletics have grown into an increasingly profitable, billion dollar industry, however the rules surrounding athlete compensation have not been modernized,” said Moran, who noted that multiple universities in Kansas boast top-tier athletics programs.