--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Noel King: And I'm Noel King.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Today, we're talking about college sports and the changing landscape of name, image, and likeness rights. Joining me is JP Acosta from SB Nation.
--:-- JP Acosta: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start with the basics. Name, image, and likeness rights, or NIL, is a way for college football and college student athletes to make money off of their name, their image, or their likeness.
--:-- JP Acosta: That's right. And it's a way for them to profit from their own brand, essentially.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And we've seen some pretty big deals come out of this. Like, Arch Manning, the high school prospect, got a $3.1 million deal.
--:-- JP Acosta: Yeah, and there are reports of an unnamed athlete getting an $8 million NIL deal.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And then there's the $10 million deal that went to quarterback Bryce Underwood to change his commitment from LSU to Michigan.
--:-- JP Acosta: That's right. And what's interesting about that deal is that it didn't come directly from the University of Michigan.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: No, it came from tech billionaire Larry Ellison, who has a personal connection to the University of Michigan.
--:-- JP Acosta: That's right. And it's a good example of how these deals are often funded by boosters and collectives, rather than the schools themselves.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's talk about the NCAA's role in all of this. The NCAA has been fighting against the idea of paying college athletes for years.
--:-- JP Acosta: Yeah, they've been arguing that college athletes are students, not employees.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: But with the rise of NIL, it seems like the NCAA is being forced to adapt.
--:-- JP Acosta: That's right. And it's created a bit of a loophole for the NCAA to allow these deals to happen, while still maintaining their stance that college athletes are students.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, how do you think this is changing college sports?
--:-- JP Acosta: I think it's creating a bit of parity between the big schools and the smaller schools. If a smaller school has a strong booster program, they can compete with the big schools for top talent.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: But it also raises concerns about the economic imbalances between the big schools and the smaller schools.
--:-- JP Acosta: Yeah, that's right. The big schools have more resources to offer these top players, which can create a bit of a talent drain for the smaller schools.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's take a break. We'll be right back.
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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome back to Today Explained. Joining me now is Pablo Torre, sports commentator and host of the podcast "Pablo Torre Finds Out".
--:-- Pablo Torre: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, Pablo, let's dive into the NCAA's role in all of this. What do you think is driving their stance on NIL?
--:-- Pablo Torre: Well, I think the NCAA is trying to hold on to their traditional model of college sports, where the athletes are seen as students, not employees.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: But with the rise of NIL, it seems like that model is being challenged.
--:-- Pablo Torre: Yeah, that's right. And I think the NCAA is trying to find a way to adapt to this new reality, while still maintaining their stance that college athletes are students.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, what do you think is the biggest challenge facing the NCAA right now?
--:-- Pablo Torre: I think the biggest challenge is the antitrust exemption that the NCAA is seeking. They want to be treated as a special institution, exempt from antitrust laws.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what would that mean for college sports?
--:-- Pablo Torre: Well, if the NCAA gets this exemption, they would be able to dictate the terms of their own existence, including how much revenue they share with athletes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what about the impact on NIL deals?
--:-- Pablo Torre: I think the NCAA would still allow NIL deals to happen, but they would try to regulate them in some way.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the politics of all this. Do you think there's bipartisan support for the NCAA's antitrust exemption?
--:-- Pablo Torre: I don't think so. I think the NCAA is universally disliked, and politicians are unlikely to support their efforts.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's take a break. We'll be right back.
--:-- [Break music plays]
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome back to Today Explained. Joining me now is JP Acosta from SB Nation.
--:-- JP Acosta: Thanks for having me back on the show.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, JP, let's talk about the impact of NIL on college sports. What do you think is the biggest benefit?
--:-- JP Acosta: I think the biggest benefit is that it's creating a bit of parity between the big schools and the smaller schools.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: But what about the economic imbalances between the big schools and the smaller schools?
--:-- JP Acosta: Yeah, that's a concern. The big schools have more resources to offer these top players, which can create a bit of a talent drain for the smaller schools.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the future of college sports. Do you think we'll see a shift towards a more professional model?
--:-- JP Acosta: I think that's possible. With the rise of NIL, it's creating a bit of a free market in college sports, where the athletes are able to profit from their own brand.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's wrap up. Thanks for joining me, JP.
--:-- JP Acosta: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And thanks for joining me, Pablo.
--:-- Pablo Torre: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Today's show was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Rob Byers, and hosted by me, Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Noel King: And I'm Noel King.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks for listening to Today Explained. If you want to support our show, you can become a Vox Member today: vox.com/members.
--:-- Noel King: And don't forget to give us a review or tell a friend about the show.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks for listening.
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