Georgia Governor Signs Executive Order Allowing Colleges to Pay Athletes Directly

The order shields state schools from NCAA penalties and aims to keep them competitive in the evolving landscape of college athletics.

Gov. Brian Kemp's executive order permits Georgia colleges to directly compensate athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
The order prevents the NCAA or athletic conferences from penalizing Georgia schools for these payments.
This move aligns Georgia with states like Virginia, which have enacted similar legislation.
Georgia and Georgia Tech athletic directors praised the order, citing its importance for maintaining competitiveness and supporting student-athletes.
The NCAA is currently awaiting a federal settlement that may standardize NIL payments nationally, but Georgia's order takes immediate effect.