Five universities in Utah are challenging an order issued this week by the state's records committee that NIL contracts become public record under state law when shared with a university.
According to the Cache Valley Daily, Utah State has partnered with four other in-state institutions to fight the order.
The NCAA's interim policy on Name, Image and Likeness rules for student athletes includes this phrase: “…student-athletes should report NIL activities consistent with state law or school and conference requirements to their their school.”
The records committee order was issued Nov. 27 and the universities have 30 days to appeal.
Earlier this year, under the Government Record Access and Management Act, the Deseret News requested that NIL contracts athletes had submitted to Utah State, Southern Utah, Utah Valley, Weber State and Utah State be made public. All initial requests and appeals were denied.
Attorneys for the in-state school argued that revealing requested NIL information constitutes an invasion of privacy.
The NCAA instituted its interim NIL policy in June 2021. Last year when ESPN requested 23 universities release NIL details, ESPN said the response was next to nothing.
