The Impact of NIL on Athletes' Decisions

By: Jacob Schmutter

In recent months, the issue of college eligibility has sparked controversy as student athletes are returning to college or gaining extra years of eligibility. This is due to the so-called “NIL” rules. This acronym stands for “Name, Image and Likeness,” and these rules allow college athletes to profit from their fame playing on the field.

Over the past couple of months, several athletes have returned to college after being drafted by the NBA or playing overseas, raising the question of whether the rules of eligibility are truly necessary. Some have questioned whether they are even being enforced.

Just in recent weeks, Ole Miss star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss won an injunction to gain a 6th year of eligibility, despite the NCAA's previous ruling that denied it.

He is now projected to earn an astonishing 5-6 million dollars in 2026, significantly more than he would earn as a backup quarterback in the NFL.

There are further examples of this dynamic. After entering the 2023 NBA Draft and spending three seasons in the G League on a two-way contract, Charles Bediako used a court injunction to return to Alabama for the 2025-26 season.

Similarly, James Nnaji, who was drafted in 2023 by the Charlotte Hornets and had played professionally in Europe, was also cleared by the NCAA to play for Baylor College. 

Since neither Bediako or Nnaji played in the NBA, they were able to return to collegiate basketball despite being drafted years prior to the NBA.

Also consider the case of Amari Bailey. Although he played 10 NBA games for the Hornets, he is currently pursuing a lawsuit to regain eligibility to return to college basketball. Unlike the others, he did sign an NBA contract and played in the NBA.

What should college teams do in this new era? Should they sign past draftees or sit by and watch other teams sign them?

It's critical to take into account the effects on team dynamics and the growth of younger athletes as college athletics continue to change. The advancement of younger talent within a program may be changed by the return of more seasoned, older players who have been drafted or played professionally. 

In order to balance the contributions of these players with the development prospects of younger recruits, coaches may have to make tough choices that could cause conflict in locker rooms and change team tactics. 

The coach's role in overseeing both team chemistry and on-field performance will become even more complicated as NIL money and court injunctions make eligibility rules more flexible.

Despite some critics who claim that these court cases and rulings could compromise the integrity of collegiate sports, I think this change is exciting for collegiate athletics. The ability to earn money while still representing their schools encourages athletes to give their best effort.