Overview

• The July 24 executive order mandates interagency coordination among the Education Department, Labor Department, FTC, DOJ and HHS to create uniform NIL rules and confirms that student-athletes are not university employees.
• High-school NIL programs are active in 39 states and the District of Columbia, with deals ranging from Malachi Nelson’s six-figure contract as a junior to Zion Cruz’s apparel sponsorship.
• Analysts warn that unchecked high-school NIL deals risk distorting college recruiting, deepening regional and gender inequities, and incentivizing families to relocate for endorsement eligibility.
• Implementation of the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement is under way, but a Ninth Circuit Title IX appeal and ongoing litigation cast doubt on full back-pay distribution and equity safeguards.
• Advocates urge the National Federation of State High School Associations to develop a voluntary model NIL code with age limits, disclosure requirements and financial-literacy protections to harmonize state policies.