Athlete contracts
FILE - Texas players sing "The Eyes Of Texas," after defeating Kansas State 22-17 in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 26, 2021. The new business world of college athletes getting paid for endorsements has created a rapidly expanding pop-up industry: nonprofits formed to set up athletes with deals that pay them to promote charities. Among the first was Horns With Heart, a nonprofit set up to aid offensive linemen at the University of Texas in 2021. A bill filed Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, would eliminate the tax deduction for individuals and for specific contributions that are then paid to athletes for name, image and likeness deals. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
College athletics sees surge in nonprofits paying players

By Jim Vertuno And Pat Eaton-Robb Sep. 30, 2022 12:49 PM EDT

FILE - Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner Jim Phillips answers a question during an NCAA college football news conference at the ACC media days in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Last month, the Division I Board of Directors adopted three proposals to modernize the infractions process and also committed to “identifying appropriate types of penalties and modifying current penalty ranges, including identifying potential alternative penalties to postseason bans.” That goal is already well under way. "The reality is the current system is broken," said Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips, a member of the transformation committee. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)
NCAA steering farther and farther away from harsh penalties

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 29, 2022 01:48 PM EDT

Former Alabama split end Dennis Homan, left, poses with his daughter Missy Homan, center, and grandson Kneeland Hibbett, a current Alabama long snapper, outside Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Hibbett has pledged to donate a share of his name, image and likeness proceeds to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, which has worked with ex-football players and others who developed traumatic brain injuries from repeated hits to the head. (Homan family photograph via AP)
Grandson of Alabama champ pledges NIL money to CTE research

By Jimmy Golen Sep. 20, 2022 04:57 PM EDT

South Carolina tight end Jaheim Bell (0) pushes off Georgia State safety Antavious Lane (34) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
SEC full of tight-end talent, led by Bell, Bowers, Trigg

By Mark Long Sep. 14, 2022 11:27 AM EDT

FILE - Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) stands with head coach Jim Harbaugh during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Western Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Harbaugh has decided to start Big Ten championship-winning quarterback Cade McNamara when No. 8 Michigan opens its season against Colorado State, and to give J.J. McCarthy a shot to take the first snap next week against Hawaii. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
Harbaugh hopes players get a revenue share from 12-team CFP

By Larry Lage Sep. 05, 2022 01:40 PM EDT

FILE - Texas running back Bijan Robinson (5) runs against Oklahoma State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Robinson was named to The Associated Press preseason All-America NCAA college football first team, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
NIL deals put just a few bucks in most athletes' pockets

By Dave Skretta Aug. 31, 2022 10:58 AM EDT

FILE - Penn State's Ji'Ayir Brown talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Indianapolis. “Having an opportunity to change other peoples' lives, that's what's cool about NIL,” said Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford. “It's not what we're doing or what I'm doing,” Clifford said, “it's about what Ji'Ayir came from to now where he's at, being able to impact a dude like that. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
New rules make star college football players millionaires

By Dave Skretta Aug. 31, 2022 10:54 AM EDT

FILE - At left, Alabama head coach Nick Saban yells to the sideline during the first half of Alabama's NCAA college football scrimmage, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. At right, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher reacts to an official's call during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. To hear coaches speak of it, NIL deals have either helped bring them the players they were looking for or it's just another level of competition to land the most elite athletes. (AP Photo/File)
EXPLAINER: Name, image and licensing in college, HS sports

By Erica Hunzinger Aug. 31, 2022 02:32 AM EDT

FILE - Ohio State head coach Ryan Day talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Indianapolis. Pay-for-play situations or improper inducements are still banned, but there is nothing stopping colleges from letting recruits know how athletes on campus are already profiting through NIL deals and how much support is available to them if they're interested. For instance, Ohio State has a Twitter account in which it boasted this summer that it had surpassed 1,000 disclosed NIL deals for its athletes. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
'Arms race': NIL compensation now a potent recruiting weapon

By Steve Megargee Aug. 31, 2022 02:25 AM EDT

After the first year of college sports’ name, image and likeness era, the total amount spent was about $917 million according to estimates by NIL platform Opendorse. The following graphic shows the average value of some first year NIL deals.here
New online NIL marketplace connects fans to college athletes

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 01, 2022 12:14 PM EDT

Incoming Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, left, stands with outgoing Commissioner Bob Bowlsby at the NCAA college football Big 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 14, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Big 12's new boss Yormark learning NCAA issues in real time

By Stephen Hawkins Jul. 31, 2022 12:54 PM EDT

Sportlight-Week Ahead, July 22-28

By The Associated Press Jul. 21, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
July 22 1921 — Jim Barnes wins the U.S. Men’s Open golf championship by edging Walter Hagen, Leo Diegel, Jock Hutchinson and Fred McLeod. ...

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Florida QB Richardson seeks 'rebrand, sheds AR-15 nickname

By Charles Odum Jul. 20, 2022 04:09 PM EDT

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Saban: Alabama players topped $3 million in NIL money

Jul. 19, 2022 04:59 PM EDT

FILE - Kansas State guard Nijel Pack (24) shoots next to West Virginia forward Isaiah Cottrell during an NCAA college basketball game in Manhattan, Kan., Feb. 14, 2022. The first year of the athlete compensation era in college sports evolved into almost everything the NCAA didn't want when it gave the green light last summer. What originally was envisioned as a way for college athletes to make some pocket money based on their celebrity has turned into bidding wars for football and men's basketball recruits and transfers. Pack made one of the first big splashes in April. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)
One year of NIL: How much have athletes made?

By Erica Hunzinger Jul. 06, 2022 04:56 PM EDT

FILE - Kentucky quarterback Will Levis looks for a receiver against during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Oct. 29, 2021. The quarterback with the active and entertaining TikTok account has become an intriguing NFL prospect. That combination of personality and athletic potential has never been more valuable in college athletics. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Kentucky QB Levis balances NIL gains with long-term goals

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 30, 2022 01:22 PM EDT

FILE - Alabama coach Nick Saban watches players warm up for the team's College Football Playoff championship game against Georgia on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. The first year of the athlete compensation era in college sports evolved into almost everything the NCAA didn't want when it gave the green light last summer.v“When you see Nick Saban losing his cool over recruiting, it's a sure sign that damage is being done at the highest levels of NCAA athletic competition,” University of Illinois labor law professor Michael LeRoy said, referring to the Alabama football coach's comments in May. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
One year into NIL era, fresh questions about its future

By Eric Olson Jun. 30, 2022 01:20 PM EDT

FILE - Texas players sing "The Eyes Of Texas" after defeating Kansas State in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Nov. 26, 2021. Texas is one of several states that legally ban using endorsement contracts as pay for play or recruiting, but have shown no interest in questioning the deals, school officials or third-party groups that set them up. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
No angst about college athletes cashing in at 1st NIL summit

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 14, 2022 06:15 PM EDT

FILE - Alabama head coach Nick Saban yells instruction before an NCAA college football game against LSU, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Southeastern Conference spring meetings will be held in person for the first time since 2019 in a little less than two weeks. It is unlikely two of the league's superstar coaches will be chumming around Destin, Florida, together. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Saban on feud with Fisher: 'I have no problem with Jimbo'

By Ralph D. Russo May. 31, 2022 03:00 PM EDT

FILE - Miami punter Lou Hedley prepares to punt during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Oct. 23, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Hedley is among thousands of international student athletes who can’t earn income from their name, image and likeness on U.S. soil. Some are trekking home to do it. Hedley had to fly 13,000 miles to western Australia to cash in on his name. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
'It's all legal': Foreign college athletes cash in at home

By Ken Maguire May. 30, 2022 01:35 AM EDT