The NCAA has taken the first steps toward allowing student-athletes get paid for the use of their name, image, or likeness -- allowing them to get money from endorsements. But that doesn't mean you'll see Joe Burrow on Coca Cola ads any time soon, though.
There is still a lot that needs to happen, says Tulane sports law professor Gabe Feldman. The conferences and member colleges will have to set up guidelines "consistent with the collegiate model." That model currently forbids student athletes from getting any money related to playing sports. But it's potential seismic shift in a body that has long come down hard on student athletes and schools that were involved in players being paid in any fashion.
"The funny thing is that the collegiate model is whatever the NCAA says the collegiate model is," said Feldman, "And the collegiate model has evolved over time."
For example, Feldman says the NCAA once forbid scholarships, but that changed to become standard procedure today.
"It may be that the name image and likeness rights that are being granted to college athletes will be relatively limited," said Feldman.
Feldman say there no doubt the NCAA was spurred to action by California' recent law that makes it illegal to forbid name, image, and likeness rights to student athletes, and other state legislatures giving it serious consideration.
