Durbin Releases Statement For The Record For Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Name, Image, And Likeness, And The Future Of College Sports

Press Release

"College sports is a big business that generates big profits. Over the past 20 years, college sports revenue has grown from $4.3 billion to $16.6 billion--an increase of 400 percent. And that number continues to grow.

Yet, little of this money has made its way to the athletes who made these record-breaking profits possible. Until recently, NCAA rules not only prevented college athletes from receiving compensation for their participation in sports, they also prohibited those athletes from profiting off their name, image, and likeness, or NIL, rights.

That all changed in July 2021. Following the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in NCAA v. Alston that the NCAA could not limit education-related payments to student-athletes, and in the face of state laws soon to take effect that would allow college athletes to profit off their NIL rights, the NCAA changed course. It abandoned its prior prohibition and, for the first time, allowed athletes to remain eligible while receiving NIL compensation.

But there are some downsides. There have been reports of collectives and others that attempt to take advantage of college athletes, including through extremely high commissions and onerous payback terms.

That is why the Committee has convened a panel of seven witnesses with unique perspectives on the issue of NIL. They will testify about the impact NIL has had on college athletics, including what it means for competitive balance, gender equity, and Title IX. They will also testify about the impact NIL has had on the lives of college athletes.

NIL has opened a new door for college athletes to benefit from the value they bring to their schools and communities. We should embrace this change, while recognizing the potential pitfalls it brings with it.

I appreciate the work of many of my colleagues--including several on this Committee--who have introduced bills to address NIL in college sports. As we consider today's testimony and these bills, we must focus on what is in the best interests of college athletes."

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