A deal BYU has made available to its football players could test how much allowing athletes to be compensated by outside companies for name, image and likeness can be used as a competitive advantage.
Last week, BYU announced Built Brands — a Utah-based company that makes protein snacks — will give all 123 members of the Cougars’ football team the opportunity to be paid to promote its products.
Scholarship players can earn $1,000. For walk-ons, players who are not on athletic scholarship, the payment can be equivalent to the cost of a year’s tuition at BYU, which ranges from about $3,000 to $6,000 per semester.