How fans view the new NIL laws
College athletes have not been able to make any money off of their likeness but a recent trend in state-level NIL bills will change that next month. The real question is, do the fans understand the changes coming to college athletics?
At least five states will activate their bills on July 1st of this year and for the first time college athletes can earn money. Some states have restrictions on how much and how a player can earn money but for the most part they can take sponsorships and endorsements for cash.
College fans like Aly McCarthy of Maryland understand the bill and can see the benefits for athletes as they build their brands.
“You see professional athletes in the media but now you might see more college athletes,” says McCarthy. “They can build a brand before they go pro now. That will help both professional and college sport’s brands and players.
Athletes will be taught how to manage and grow their own personal brands by programs being set up by their universities. Alabama has announced The Advantage and a partnership with the Compass NIL platform over the last month has they get ready for Alabama’s NIL law to take effect on July 1st. The goal of these programs is to help players learn how to manage and grow their brands. Currently college athletes are learning on their own how to do this.
Other fans, like Julia Kinsey, an Ohio State fan, believe that there needs to be boundaries and limits on pay.
“There should be boundaries on what they can do and earn,” says Kinsey. “Their job in college is like high school, to get scouted and try to get to the NFL, or pro level. There should be limits on how much a player can make and there should be a difference between what pros get and college athletes can get.”
Fans somewhat understand the bill and how it’s going to change the landscape of college athletics and in the end, it won’t impact how they view and watch the game:
“I will root for the Arkansas Razorbacks no matter what,” said Nick Works.
Maxwell Donaldson 
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