On July 29, 2026, Nebraska’s athletic director announced that the College Sports Commission (CSC) had approved a restructured set of NIL deals for the same 18 Nebraska football players whose deals were arbitrated, totaling $7.5 million — the same dollar amount as the agreements the CSC previously denied. As discussed in our prior post, “The Great Divide Post-House: CSC Enforcement and the Power Four Conferences,” Arbitrator Andrew M. Strongin issued a binding May 11, 2026, ruling upholding the CSC’s denial of $7.5 million in NIL deals structured through Nebraska’s exclusive multimedia rights (MMR) partner.
NIL Enforcement
MMRs and Third-Party Sponsors Are Associated Entities Under the House Settlement
On June 25, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California denied the House plaintiffs’ motion to exclude multimedia rights companies (MMRs) and third-party sponsors from the definition of associated entities under the House settlement enforcement.[1] Class counsel filed a motion seeking clarity on the definition of “associated entities or individuals,” arguing:
College Sports Commission Updates Its Range of Compensation Analysis
On June 23, the College Sports Commission (CSC) issued a memorandum to all Division I Institutions and Conferences updating its NIL deal review, enforcement policy, and agent agreements.
The Great Divide Post-House: CSC Enforcement and the Power Four Conferences
Following the district court’s approval of the House settlement in 2025, in which Division I schools that opted into the settlement were allowed to directly compensate student-athletes, schools began looking for ways to remain competitive in recruiting and retention. Some have turned to third-party multimedia rights companies (MMRs) to structure NIL opportunities outside the revenue-sharing amount. That strategy has now placed MMRs at the center of a larger enforcement dispute: whether these entities should be treated as “associated entities” subject to heightened review by the College Sports Commission (CSC).
Defining an ‘Associated Entity’: Class Counsel in House v. NCAA Files Motion Seeking to Limit College Sports Commission’s Role
On April 20, 2026, settlement class counsel for the plaintiffs in House v. NCAA filed a motion seeking to enforce the fourth amended stipulation and settlement agreement, effectively asking the court to rein in the College Sports Commission (CSC).[1]
CSC Notifies LSU and Other Schools of Investigations Into Potential NIL Deal-Reporting Violations
Just weeks ago, we reported that the College Sports Commission (CSC) would be ramping up investigations into unreported third-party NIL agreements. The CSC has since made good on that promise. On January 30, The Athletic reported that Louisiana State University’s (LSU) athletic director, Verge Ausberry, received an email from the CSC’s head of investigations, Katie B. Medearis, informing the institution that they were under investigation regarding potential failure to report multiple third-party NIL deals.
CSC Participation Agreement Update: Seeley Turns Up the Heat at NCAA Convention
As a follow-up to NIL Revolution’s November 25, 2025, coverage, this post updates where things stand with the College Sports Commission’s (CSC) participation agreement more than a month after the original December 3, 2025, signing deadline.
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.
UPDATE: CSC Moves to Close Post-House Settlement Loopholes and Bolster Enforcement Powers Through Membership Agreement
The College Sports Commission (CSC) has circulated a 10-page University Participation Agreement that would dramatically reshape NIL and direct-payment enforcement. The biggest shift: schools would waive their right to challenge CSC rulings in court and funnel all disputes into the arbitration system created by the House settlement. The agreement only takes effect if every school signs.