In this episode, host Jeremy M. Evans examines how the original vision for name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college athletics has drifted far from its intent and why current compliance systems are no longer fit for purpose. Rather than remaining outside athlete-driven market activity, many schools and conferences are now managing, approving, and enforcing NIL arrangements themselves, blurring the line between independent compensation and institutional control.

Jeremy discusses how this shift has reshaped college sports economics, including the impact on athlete mobility, transfer decision-making, and contract disputes. Compliance frameworks were not designed to manage compensation over time, and their expanded role has increased uncertainty and legal exposure across the college sports landscape.

The episode also outlines potential paths forward, including reducing institutional involvement, relying more heavily on contract-based solutions, and adopting governance approaches better aligned with modern market realities. For athletes, administrators, and legal professionals, this episode explains why NIL compliance must evolve and where meaningful reform can begin. (Season 8, Episode 3).

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