Title IX Applies to NIL Revenue Sharing Beginning July 1, DOE Says, Impacting Schools' Planned Allocations

Jan 16, 2025, 11:06 PM

The U.S. Department of Education's outgoing leadership has issued guidance stating that future payments from schools to athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights are to be classified as "financial assistance". Under Title IX, such assistance must be made proportionately available to male and female athletes. This directive could have substantial ramifications for college athletics, particularly in the way schools distribute revenue sharing among athletes when the payments begin on July 1. Many schools, in line with the House v. NCAA settlement, had planned to allocate approximately $20.5 million annually with 75% earmarked for football, 15% for men's basketball, 5% for women's basketball, and 5% for other sports. The new classification may require schools to adjust these plans to comply with Title IX, ensuring a more equitable distribution between male and female athletes. However, some administrators are skeptical about how the incoming Republican administration will interpret and enforce Title IX, suggesting that the Department of Education's stance may change after the presidential inauguration on Monday.