In this episode of Highway to NIL, Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys Cal Stein and Chris Brolley are joined by 42U CEO and former Division I student-athlete Stephen Bienko to discuss how NIL is reshaping college sports from the inside out. Stephen explains how 42U helps athletes understand their identity, decision-making, and long-term goals rather than chasing one-off NIL deals. The conversation explores how Power Four and mid-major programs are building NIL infrastructures, why women’s and Olympic sports may offer the greatest growth opportunity, how student-athlete expectations have evolved since the early days of NIL, and how regulatory and compliance uncertainty is affecting administrators and athletes alike.
This Is SPARTA: The FTC’s Formal Inquiry and a Sea Change in Federal Oversight of College Sports Agents
Key Takeaway:
After decades of minimal federal activity, the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (SPARTA) is drawing renewed attention. A January 2026 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) inquiry into sports agent practices may signal a meaningful shift in enforcement — particularly in the NIL era.
Enforcement on the Horizon: CSC Issues NIL Guidance
On January 8, the College Sports Commission (CSC) issued guidance in direct response to a recent news report from Yahoo Sports that examined college football student-athletes being offered third-party NIL deals that violate the terms of the House settlement — making promises of third-party NIL money that does not yet exist — designed to induce transfers or retain players.
The Issue in Enforcing Student Athlete Revenue Sharing Contracts Resurfaces Amid Demond Williams Attempted Transfer
On January 6, 2025, University of Washington standout quarterback Demond Williams announced that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal just four days after reportedly signing a contract with Washington football for the 2026-27 season.[i] Williams’ deal with Washington has been reported to be for approximately $4 million, which is considered near the top of the market in terms of revenue sharing and NIL compensation for a student-athlete.[ii] It has been reported that Washington has no intention of releasing Williams from his contract and plans to pursue legal action against Williams. Washington officials have described the contract as a “legally binding revenue-sharing contract with the school.”[iii] Under the recent House settlement, schools are entitled to compensate student-athletes through a revenue-sharing pool that is capped at approximately $20.5 million.
Pruitt v. NCAA: A Bellwether Case on Due Process in NCAA and CSC Enforcement Models?
The preliminary injunction issued by the Circuit Court of DeKalb County, Alabama blocking enforcement of the NCAA’s six-year show-cause penalty against former University of Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt represents more than another legal challenge to college sports governance. The ruling rests on due process grounds that carry implications extending beyond this individual case, reaching directly into both the NCAA’s existing enforcement apparatus and the College Sports Commission’s emerging investigative framework.
Maximizing Revenue: The Future of College Sports Media Rights in a Post-House World
In this episode of Highway to NIL, Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys Cal Stein, Chris Brolley, and George Pla look at the post-House settlement landscape, including the revenue-sharing pool that allows schools to pay athletes up to 22% of athletic revenue. They examine how those payments may impact athletic budgets and nonrevenue sports, and how schools may seek to make up any shortfalls by, among other things, maximizing their media rights revenue through incentive-based agreements and exploring private capital investments.
NCAA Amends Bylaws as CSC Hires Former Federal Prosecutor
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors has adopted emergency legislation that allows the College Sports Commission (CSC) to declare Division I student-athletes ineligible for failing to disclose noninstitutional name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals within five days of entering into those deals. The emergency amendment also imposes obligations on institutions that learn that a student-athlete has failed to disclose the NIL deal.
Executive Order Breakdown: President Trump’s Vision for College Sports and NIL Reform
In this episode of Highway to NIL, Troutman Pepper Locke attorney Cal Stein breaks down President Trump’s “Saving College Sports” executive order. Stein highlights the order’s push for new name, image, and likeness (NIL) guardrails, protection and expansion of women’s and nonrevenue sports, and a crackdown on third-party pay-for-play payments. He also discusses the call for federal agencies to clarify student-athlete status, signaling possible changes ahead for college athletics governance.
Moving the Goalposts: CSC Adds and Subtracts Guidance on the “Valid Business Purpose” Standard
As we reported last week, the College Sports Commission (CSC) issued initial guidance on how it would evaluate student-athlete NIL deals. As part of that guidance, the CSC promised to make available additional information “pending discussions with House class counsel.”
CSC Guidance Unveiled: NIL Enforcement and Implications for Collectives
In this episode of Highway to NIL, Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys Cal Stein, Mike Lowe, and Brett Broczkowski delve into the latest guidance from the College Sports Commission (CSC) regarding name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. They explore the criteria set by the CSC for evaluating NIL deals, including payer association, valid business purpose, and range of compensation. The discussion highlights the implications for associated entities, particularly collectives and boosters, and the potential shift in their roles due to the new guidelines.