Only a few weeks remain until the outcome of the House v NCAA lawsuit will be officially decided. In the lead up to that decision, several states have introduced legislation allowing universities in that state to directly pay student-athletes. Nebraska is the latest to join the growing list.
Nebraska, alongside Oklahoma, Ohio and others, has introduced a bill that would allow student-athletes to earn direct compensation for their name, image and likeness. Sen. Megan Hunt introduced LB370 in Nebraska, which was first discussed by the business and labor committee.
According to Nebraska Public Media, Hunt’s bill would “allow payments to come directly from athletic departments, which she said would keep the state's college sports teams competitive.” The bill would also establish standards for athlete-agent relationships and creates other safeguards for student-athlete NIL deals.
Related: Oklahoma Governor Stitt Signs Executive Order Allowing Schools to Pay Student-Athletes for NIL
Nebraska currently has several third parties established to pay student-athletes including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s NIL collective and 1890 Nebraska.
Hunt told Nebraska Public Media, “States that do not allow their college athletes to enter into NIL deals and receive NIL compensation from their athletic programs will be at a significant disadvantage in recruiting and retaining talented college athletes. We have such a strong and proud tradition of Husker athletics in our state. LB 370 is a necessary step to keep that competitive edge."
Sen. Hunt worked with Ramogi Huma, former UCLA football player and now executive director of the National College Player Association (NCPA) on the bill. Huma told KETV 7, “Nebraska has been a leader in NIL.” But Huma knows that the impending House v NCAA decision will face years of appeals, so proactive decisions at the state level could be what gives universities a competitive edge for student-athletes.
The University of Nebraska has not publicly commented on LB370, but Hunt told KETV7 that the school has reviewed its details.
