In a move almost certainly galvanized by Daishen Nix’s decommit from UCLA to enter the NBA’s G-League, the NCAA Board of Governors voted to support player payments, so long as they aren’t directly from the school.
The rule change will allow players to profit from third-party endorsements based on likeness, appearance, and name, as well as businesses they start and social media.
And every sports fan screamed that it’s about time.
First off, who cares if college players make a little money off of a photoshoot or autograph session. It’s a win-win situation.
The player can actually earn some cash from their hard work and the endorsers boost their following. What’s wrong with that situation?
Isn’t the open-market sale of goods, services, and even name recognition a major tenet of a capitalist society?
These guys are trying to feed their families and build generational wealth. They deserve every penny they earn.
It’s a great look for the NCAA after three top prospects signed with the G-League development program so far (Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd being the other two). With that much talent lost, the NCAA had no choice but to remarket itself with added perks.
In the age of the one-and-done (regardless of how you feel about it), players need more incentive to join the college game.
This especially comes when the G-League offers an inside lane to joining a team’s roster early alongside a six-figure salary for top talent.
While everyone’s looking at the impact on college football and hoops, this also revolutionizes NCAA hockey recruiting trail at an even greater level.
A huge reason top prospects take the major junior route has historically been the better exposure in the CHL. Hundreds of prospects choose to make menial per diem contracts in the CHL instead of potentially completing a degree in the college game.
But this move by the NCAA changes everything.
Let’s say you’re a mid-tier prospect projected to peak as a second- or third-line winger in the OHL. College coaches’ pitches just got a whole lot more interesting now that you can make money on your own branding.
And how many mid-tier CHL players could light up the college game? This could mark a major influx of talent in the coming years.
Mark my words: you’re going to see more players opting to get a degree — or at the very least attend college — in order to raise their draft stock and earn a little more dough.
Not only will this boost college hockey, but I’ll guarantee CHL clubs will start offering a couple extra decimal places to their contracts to keep their talent levels consistent.
Who wants to get paid a per diem CHL contract just to keep the lights on when they can get paid, build a brand, and earn a degree playing for a school like Wisconsin or North Dakota?
If this rule change happens — and in all likelihood it will — the NCAA game just became a whole lot more competitive.
Big Tex Goes to College 