National NIL Day

July 1, 2021, changed the face of college athletics.

On that date, scholarship athletes at colleges and universities were granted the ability to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL) for the first time in the modern era of sport.

National NIL Day — July 1 — marks the date on which college athletes could finally enjoy the same earning abilities as other college scholarship students.  

It’s not been without chaos and confusion as the NCAA, America’s longtime governing body plays catch-up to assemble national rules after states implemented their own.

College athletes and businesses that have thoughtfully and responsibly engaged with them continue to move forward. They host camps, tutor on and off the field, create and sell merchandise and establish business relationships they could not in the past.

We intend to celebrate National NIL Day annually and share the many special stories that have emerged from college athletes’ ability to partner with business, create their own and most importantly, earn money from their name, image and likeness. It’s about a certain freedom to learn, create and grow.

After all, isn’t that what college is all about?