Ty Simpson reportedly turned down NIL offers as high as $6.5 million to chase his lifelong goal of playing in the NFL. After prayer, conversations with his parents, and advice from Nick Saban to “take the money out of it,” Simpson chose legacy, timing, and long-term vision over another year of college football elsewhere. He believed leaving Alabama for the highest bidder would erase what he had built as a captain and leader and he wasn’t willing to risk that, even in today’s NIL-driven era. If you were in his position, would you take the guaranteed NIL money or bet on yourself at the next level? Curious to hear how you’d navigate this decision if it were your future on the line. READ HERE: https://www.on3.com/news/massive-nil-overtures-from-other-schools-couldnt-delay-ty-simpson-nfl-dreams/

The NCAA is intensifying its opposition to prediction markets tied to college sports, with president Charlie Baker formally urging the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to suspend those markets altogether. In a letter to CFTC chair Michael Selig, Baker warned that the rapid, largely unregulated growth of college sports prediction trading poses serious risks to athlete well-being, recruiting integrity, and competitive fairness, particularly after reports that Kalshi explored wagers tied to transfer portal decisions. Baker emphasized that student-athletes already face harassment linked to betting outcomes and argued their futures and transfer choices should never be subject to gambling, calling for a pause until strict safeguard such as integrity monitoring, age restrictions, limits on advertising, and bans on prop-style marketS are in place. What are your thoughts here? READ HERE: https://www.on3.com/nil/news/ncaa-calls-for-suspension-prediction-markets-college-sports-charlie-baker/

College leaders are increasingly frustrated with the lack of NIL enforcement following the House settlement, as Congress, the NCAA, and the College Sports Commission continue to debate governance without taking meaningful action. That frustration came to a head when University of Georgia president Jere Morehead publicly criticized all three for failing to enforce NIL and tampering rules, suggesting the SEC may need to step in and create its own enforcement structure if federal and NCAA leadership continue to stall. At the same time, the CSC issued warnings during the transfer portal window about unreported third-party NIL deals, emphasizing that promised money must be cleared through NIL Go or athletes could face unpaid deals and eligibility risks. Together, these developments highlight a growing power shift in college sports, where major conferences may move toward self-governance as national oversight continues to falter. READ HERE: https://www.on3.com/nil/news/georgia-president-calls-out-congress-ncaa-for-not-enforcing-nil-rules-suggests-sec-fill-void/

I want to bring this article to your attention because it highlights an important shift happening in college sports right now. There is growing discussion around a new participation agreement tied to college sports enforcement. In simple terms, athletes may be asked to sign agreements that outline expectations, rules, and consequences related to NIL, eligibility, and participation. Here’s why this matters for athletes and parents 👇🏽 1. NIL Is Becoming More Formalized What started as a loosely defined space is moving toward more structure. That means clearer rules — but also more accountability. 2. Agreements = Responsibility When athletes sign participation agreements, they’re not just agreeing to play. They’re agreeing to follow specific guidelines around NIL activity, representation, and conduct. 3. “I Didn’t Know” Won’t Be a Defense As enforcement systems evolve, lack of education won’t protect athletes. Understanding what you’re signing — and how NIL fits into it — is critical. 4. This Affects Families Too Parents are often helping guide decisions, review contracts, and support athletes. These agreements make it even more important for families to be informed and aligned. The bigger takeaway: College sports is moving toward more oversight, not less. That’s exactly why we focus so heavily on education, foundation-building, and doing things the right way from the start. This is also why we teach athletes to: • Slow down before signing anything • Ask questions early • Understand rules before opportunities arise • Build their brand with intention, not shortcuts 👉 Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6971878/2026/01/14/csc-participation-agreement-college-sports-enforcement/ If you read this article and had questions or concerns, drop them below. These are the conversations that help protect athletes long-term.

The College Sports Commission (CSC) announced that NIL Go has cleared $127.21 million in NIL deals during its first six months of operation. The clearinghouse, operated by Deloitte, launched on June 11 following approval of the House settlement. From launch through Dec. 31, 2025, NIL Go reviewed 17,845 submitted deals, clearing 17,321 of them. A total of 524 deals (valued at $14.94 million) were not cleared, while 10 deals remained in arbitration and eight were withdrawn, all tied to administrative issues at the same institution. According to the CSC, the most common reasons deals were not cleared included: - Lack of a valid business purpose - No direct activation of an athlete’s NIL rights - Compensation not aligned with fair market value for similarly situated individuals The system has processed deals efficiently: 52% were resolved within 24 hours, and 73% within one week once required information was submitted. NIL Go activity spans nearly 11,000 unique athletes across 40 sports, with 44% of deals involving athletes outside of football and men’s basketball. Overall, more than 35,300 athletes, 1,263 institutions, and 4,202 representatives are now registered with the platform. The update also reflects rapid growth since the CSC’s previous report on Nov. 1, when $87.5 million had been cleared. Since then, an additional 5,100+ deals worth $39.71 million have been approved. The announcement comes amid increased scrutiny during the transfer portal window. The CSC reiterated that third-party NIL deals over $600 must go through NIL Go, expressed “serious concerns” about some reported offers, and confirmed that investigations into unreported or non-compliant deals are ongoing, with some schools expected to be contacted soon. READ HERE: https://www.on3.com/nil/news/college-sports-commission-nil-go-has-cleared-127-million-deals-csc/