CSC Relaxes NIL Payment Rules Amid Legal Pressure

The College Sports Commission (CSC) has updated its guidelines on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, now allowing third-party collectives to pay college athletes as long as deals serve a genuine business purpose tied to promoting for-profit goods or services. The change was prompted by legal pressure from House v. NCAA plaintiffs, who argued the former restrictions violated terms of a recent settlement. Collectives must provide documentation of their profit-driven activities, and each deal will be reviewed through the CSC's NIL Go portal. The revised rules prohibit pay-for-play schemes but offer greater clarity and flexibility for collectives to function as standard businesses. This compromise avoids a potential return to court and maintains oversight while letting athletes benefit from NIL opportunities. Questions remain about the effectiveness of the new enforcement structure in preserving competitive balance.