The NCAA’s new name, image, and likeness transparency platform, NIL Assist, was launched on Thursday morning. It provides deidentified NIL compensation information, a service provider registry, and educational programming.
Developed in partnership with Teamworks, the app and website establish a public database-like platform for athletes and the public to access average and median earnings for NIL deals. Users can sort the data by subdivision, sport, position, and type of NIL transaction. For instance, the platform currently shows that the average disclosure for a Power 4 quarterback for a social media post is $6,605, while the median is $150.
Here’s an example from the NIL dashboard, which says the average social media NIL deal for a P4 QB is $6,605, but the median is $150.
(The NCAA emphasized the data will get more accurate as time goes on and more info comes in). https://t.co/NmGUrSmzXD pic.twitter.com/LvIM3KikpT
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) August 1, 2024
In January, the Division I Council implemented new rules mandating athletes to disclose any NIL agreement exceeding $600 to their schools, including deal terms, services provided, and payment details. Schools are then required to share this information, without names, with the NCAA at least twice a year. Over 20 states already have similar disclosure requirements.
According to NCAA vice president David Schnase, “Coaches, student-athletes, and their families have expressed a desire for market information, and we believe that making it public is the best approach. While some may want more detailed information, this is a starting point for those seeking clarity.”
Although athletes must disclose their NIL deals, there is currently no clear penalty for failing to do so. NCAA officials clarified that the platform is designed for informational purposes and not as an eligibility enforcement tool. The Division I Council introduced an incentive in April, allowing schools to offer more NIL assistance to athletes who disclose their deals.
“Athletes who choose not to disclose may miss out on institutional NIL support. This serves as a motivation for disclosure,” added Schnase.
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The officials noted that the data may not be comprehensive at launch but will improve over time as more information is added. They also addressed concerns about a potential conflict of interest with Teamworks, a company that offers an NIL management service.
Kevin Barefoot, Teamworks’ senior vice president of business development, assured that the partnership with the NCAA is separate and focused solely on delivering the requested information to schools and student-athletes without commercial use of the data.
Aside from NIL data, the NIL Assist platform includes a voluntary service provider registry for agents, brands, collectives, and products. Officials hope providers will register to help athletes connect with services or review past work, benefiting future athletes in finding suitable representation.
Several agents and collectives questioned the registry’s value or impact when asked by The Athletic earlier this summer. Barefoot acknowledged the mixed responses, emphasizing the importance of providing information to student-athletes to understand the market and service providers.
GO DEEPER
What’s the future of NIL collectives after the House v. NCAA settlement?
The disclosure of NIL data could impact the House settlement proposal, which suggests establishing a clearinghouse to vet contracts and potentially creating an enforcement arm to determine the fair market value of NIL deals. However, there are legal challenges to this proposal from collectives, and the outcome remains uncertain if the settlement is approved.
David Schnase mentioned, “While our platform may not influence these external decisions, having accurate data will aid decision-making. This is crucial moving forward, especially with ongoing litigations influencing our actions.”
(Photo: Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)