How do college football players get paid?

With all the talk about college athletes being able to earn money, I'm curious about how this works for college football players. I've heard about the new rules allowing them to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), but I'm not entirely sure what that involves. How does this change things for athletes, and does it apply to all college levels? Also, what kind of opportunities are players seeing from these changes? If there's anyone knowledgeable about this or even going through it, I'd love to hear how it works!

The NCAA's new rules on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) have indeed opened up a revenue stream for college athletes, including football players. Under these NIL rules, college athletes can now get compensated for endorsing products, participating in commercials, signing autographs, teaching sports camps or lessons, and more.

The specifics of NIL deals can vary widely. For example, a player might sign a deal with a local restaurant to represent them in advertisements, or they could get paid to appear at an event, post about a brand on social media, or even launch their businesses, merchandising, or podcasts.

NIL opportunities certainly aren't limited to high-profile players or schools; athletes at all NCAA levels can take advantage of these possibilities. However, the scale of earning opportunities can be hugely dependent on factors like individual performance, marketability, number of followers on social media, location of the school, and popularity of the sport.

That said, athletes need to understand the regulations surrounding NIL rights. Different states have different rules and regulations that athletes must adhere to, and the NCAA also has guidelines. For instance, in some cases, athletes might not be allowed to enter into agreements that conflict with their school's sponsorship arrangements.

Lastly, to maximize potential NIL deals, many athletes are hiring marketing agents or agencies. These professionals negotiate contracts, seek sponsorship deals, and generally help athletes navigate through the commercial landscape.

In summary, NIL has opened a brand new - and potentially financially rewarding - dimension to being a college athlete. It's an exciting time for these athletes, but they must tread carefully and get the right advice to make sure they're following all the appropriate guidelines.