Airing of Grievances: NIL/Portal

[xubrew]

How about we have 8 current final four teams across basketball and 7 #1 seed teams and a #2 (possibly because the #1 had their best player hurt). I get it's happened before, but why in this age of NIL and unlimited free transfers to I expect a lot more of this. Heavily regulated NIL might be necessary to keep some parity in sports.

I agree. There are a couple of issues, though.

How can it be regulated in a way that won't get them sued??

and...

Does the P4, and particularly the P2 within the P4 give any shits at all about a lack of parity??

Viewership is actually UP for both football and basketball, especially during the tournament. This year's tournament has actually kind of stunk. As far as just looking at how exciting the games have been, the NIT has actually been much better. Yet, the ratings and viewership are still up. The P4 may not see any reasons to change anything. They don't care that it's a roster overhaul every year. They don't care that the traditional fans don't like it. They probably think things are as good as they've ever been.

[xubrew]

This administration has interpreted Title IX to not apply to NIL. It's a position that makes pefect sense, but that doesn't mean it's actually consistent with Title IX (and to 'brew's point is very likely inconsistent with how a future administration will interpret Title IX when the White House is next in Democratic hands).

Also, not relevant to this particular point, but this administration has actually suggested it wants to STRONGLY enforce Title IX when it comes to trans athletes in women's sports. Now, that might not be the kind of enforcement some want, but it's contrary to the idea that the administration has no interest in enforcing Title IX.

My thinking is that there is a difference between a true NIL (for lack of a better term) and an NIL initiative.

A true NIL would be something that the player worked out entirely on their own. Selling ads on their own website, or becoming a spokesperson for whatever, or selling their own memorabilia.

An NIL initiative, where the school was involved in setting it up and managing it for each player, is entirely different.

The former seems like it would be exempt from Title IX entirely. The latter...probably not???

When schools are talking about sharing revenue within their programs and settting a cap on what the maximum amount of revenue can be, to me that just seems to have Title IX lawsuits and regular lawsuits written all over it.

[Caveat]

My thinking is that there is a difference between a true NIL (for lack of a better term) and an NIL initiative.

A true NIL would be something that the player worked out entirely on their own. Selling ads on their own website, or becoming a spokesperson for whatever, or selling their own memorabilia.

An NIL initiative, where the school was involved in setting it up and managing it for each player, is entirely different.

The former seems like it would be exempt from Title IX entirely. The latter...probably not???

When schools are talking about sharing revenue within their programs and settting a cap on what the maximum amount of revenue can be, to me that just seems to have Title IX lawsuits and regular lawsuits written all over it.

There will be lawsuits, but I think they're going to have an uphill climb (especially in the current climate) to show that direct revenue sharing is equivalent to scholarships and other university-paid aspects of athletics funding.

I think as long as it can be shown that the female athletes are sharing in the revenue that they're responsible for bringing in (which will necessarily involve breaking down how much TV partners pay for the rights to show women's athletics, gate revenue, etc.) you'll be on decent ground for this.

[GoMuskies]

I think as long as it can be shown that the female athletes are sharing in the revenue that they're responsible for bringing in

This is undeniably the RIGHT answer. But I'm sure there will be controversy.

LSU football players certainly don't deserve any of the money Livvy Dunne is bringing in!

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I agree. There are a couple of issues, though.

How can it be regulated in a way that won't get them sued??

and...

Does the P4, and particularly the P2 within the P4 give any shits at all about a lack of parity??

Viewership is actually UP for both football and basketball, especially during the tournament. This year's tournament has actually kind of stunk. As far as just looking at how exciting the games have been, the NIT has actually been much better. Yet, the ratings and viewership are still up. The P4 may not see any reasons to change anything. They don't care that it's a roster overhaul every year. They don't care that the traditional fans don't like it. They probably think things are as good as they've ever been.

Wasn't it shown that the football playoffs actually had fewer viewers year over year? Was it just the final? I will concede that first round viewers will be immense, but year over year viewers as the tourneys advance I bet shrink.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

This is undeniably the RIGHT answer. But I'm sure there will be controversy.

LSU football players certainly don't deserve any of the money Livvy Dunne is bringing in!

I think there is a good for the gander good for the goose line here. It would certainly hurt the unicorn female athlete but the overall money would increase for a VAST majority of female athletes.

[xubrew]

Wasn't it shown that the football playoffs actually had fewer viewers year over year? Was it just the final? I will concede that first round viewers will be immense, but year over year viewers as the tourneys advance I bet shrink.

I just looked it up and it looks like you're right. At least in terms of the championship game. Last year's CFP championship game got more viewers.

[webxu]

I think the only way to achieve any sort of parity again would be to institute a salary cap for college athletics.

[xukeith]

Do women basketball athletes demand equal pay?

[Caveat]

Do women basketball athletes demand equal pay?

They can demand it, but I think they'll have a tough time claiming that they're entitled to an equal share of revenue with male athletes given the metrics.