the nil landscape just shifted — here’s what college athletes need to know right now
The past two weeks have produced more movement in the college athlete compensation space than most months. An Executive Order. A significant NCAA rule change. A federal bill drawing serious criticism. If you're a college athlete, a high school prospect, or a family trying to make sense of any of it — this post is for you.
Let me break down what happened and what it actually means.
The Executive Order: Pressure, Not Law — But Still Significant
On April 3rd, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled Urgent National Action to Save College Sports. Before anything else, let's be precise about what it is and what it isn't.
It's not legislation. It doesn't create new law. What it does is direct the NCAA to overhaul its rules on eligibility, transfers, NIL, and revenue sharing by August 1, 2026 — and directs federal agencies to use schools' eligibility for federal grants and contracts as the enforcement mechanism if they don't comply.
Multiple legal commentators have already noted the order faces significant legal vulnerabilities and may not survive challenge intact. NCAA President Charlie Baker, while praising it publicly, made clear that the real goal is Congressional action — specifically passage of the SCORE Act. The coordinated support from Power Four conference commissioners reinforced the same message. The EO is as much a political signal as it is a regulatory instrument.
That said, the political pressure it generates is real. It creates compliance anxiety for schools, puts collectives under scrutiny, and accelerates the push for federal legislation that would actually stick. For athletes and their advisors, the takeaway isn't "panic" — it's "pay attention." The regulatory environment is moving, and the deals you structure today need to hold up in the environment that's coming.
The NCAA Rule Change: Agents Just Got a Bigger Seat at the Table
On April 14th, the NCAA's Division I Cabinet moved to expand agent access for college and high school athletes in ways that matter practically.
Some context: NCAA bylaws have long distinguished between two categories of agents. NIL agents — those helping athletes market their name, image, and likeness through endorsement and sponsorship deals — have been permitted since 2021. What was strictly prohibited was representation by a "professional sports agent" or contract agent, meaning anyone helping a college athlete negotiate a future professional contract while they still had eligibility remaining.
What changed is meaningful in two specific ways. First, high school prospects — athletes who haven't yet enrolled — can now hire agents in a broader capacity, not just for NIL purposes. Second, and more significantly for current college athletes, agents can now negotiate revenue-sharing arrangements directly with schools on behalf of their clients.
That second piece is the one most people are underestimating. Under the House settlement, Division I schools can distribute up to $20.5 million annually to their athletes. That's not a marketing deal. That's a structured revenue-sharing negotiation with a school's athletic department — and as of the 2026-27 academic year, an agent can sit at that table.
The question worth asking: when the school sends someone to negotiate, who's on your side?
The SCORE Act: Read the Fine Print
Congress continues pushing federal NIL legislation, and the SCORE Act is the primary vehicle. Critics have raised a pointed concern worth noting — the bill caps athlete revenue sharing while top head coaches at major programs earn north of $10 million annually.
The legislation has already stalled twice on the House floor. It may change, pass in amended form, or fail altogether. But the instinct behind it — centralizing control over athlete compensation within the NCAA and its member institutions — tells you something about who benefits from where the ceiling gets set.
Athletes who will fare best in this environment are the ones with representation that understands both the regulatory landscape and the negotiating leverage that still exists within it.
What This Means If You're a College or High School Athlete Right Now
Three things to focus on before the 2026-27 academic year begins:
Review your current NIL agreements. The compliance environment is tightening regardless of what the EO's ultimate legal fate turns out to be. Deals structured loosely — through collectives, without fair market value documentation, without proper activation terms — are increasingly exposed. Get them reviewed by someone who reads contracts as a lawyer, not just as a deal-maker.
Understand your revenue-sharing position. Agents can now negotiate your share of the school's revenue pool directly. Most athletes have no idea what leverage they actually have in that conversation. Find out.
Get representation that covers both sides. The NIL space has a legal dimension that marketing-only agents aren't equipped to handle. The deals are contracts. The disputes that arise from them are legal disputes. Structure your team accordingly.
The industry is transitioning from expansion to enforcement. The athletes who planned ahead will be positioned to benefit. The ones who didn't will spend the next few years untangling problems that could have been avoided at the contract stage.
If you want a straight read on your situation — NIL deals, revenue-sharing eligibility, or what this regulatory environment means for your options — reach out. No charge for the first conversation.
Mario Iveljic is the founder of Mag Mile Sport and a licensed attorney at Mag Mile Law, based in the Chicago area. He represents professional and collegiate athletes and advises on NIL deal structure and compliance.