AROUND NIL THIS WEEK | AUG 25, 2025
- Golf NIL
- Aug 25
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Aug 25, 2025—Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, sent a letter to leaders of over 350 Division I schools warning that the proposed NCAA-backed SCORE Act would largely benefit the "Power 2" conferences—Big Ten and SEC—by granting them dominance over smaller and mid-sized programs. Cantwell argues that the bill’s main impact would be to deepen the divide in college sports, as its antitrust exemption and override of state NIL laws favor wealthy programs, fueling an arms race and unfair competition. She warns that this could block smaller schools from playoffs and financial growth.
Supporters argue that the bill standardizes NIL rules and protects the future of college sports, while opponents say it limits athlete rights, especially pertaining to employee status and revenue distribution. The bill has bipartisan support but faces opposition from Democrats concerned about equity and athlete protections. Cantwell calls for changes before it passes.
Bryce Underwood at Michigan practice, December 2024, following his flip from LSU | Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times
Aug 28, 2025—True freshman Bryce Underwood, 2025's top high school football recruit, will start at quarterback for Michigan after flipping his commitment from LSU. His flip stands as the costliest in college football history, sealed by a $12 million NIL deal bankrolled by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison—worth over $200 billion—and backed by Tom Brady and Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy, as reported by Fortune.
Ellison's wife, Jolin, a Michigan alum driven by memories of the Brady Hoke era struggles, and Brady's direct FaceTime outreach helped sway Underwood, a Belleville native. Portnoy publicly pledged funds after connecting with the Ellisons on a Zoom call with Underwood's family. Champions Circle, Michigan's NIL collective, facilitated the deal that dwarfed LSU's $1.5 million annual offer. Connor Stalions, Michigan's former staffer, also volunteered with Underwood's high school team.
While NIL money and mentorship were influential, Underwood cited proximity to home and Michigan's championship pedigree as key factors. The recruitment underscores how college sports are now shaped by deep-pocketed donors.
Aug 28, 2025—The NCAA is weighing a new rule that would require incoming Division I athletes to disclose all NIL agreements earned before college. Starting with the first day of a student’s junior year in high school, every non‑institutional deal must be reported upon enrollment. Junior college transfers would face the same standard, dating back to their first two‑year college term. All disclosures run through NIL Go, the Deloitte-managed portal overseen by the College Sports Commission, which vets deals for real business value—not masked incentives from boosters or school-affiliated groups. The rule zeroes in on pay-for-play recruiting, putting high school contracts under the microscope. Enforcement details have not been set, but athletes could lose eligibility for noncompliance. Legal experts expect pushback, arguing the NCAA may be overstepping by holding high school athletes to college-level rules.
