Colleges could soon pay student-athletes directly. How will Oregon colleges be affected?

Big changes could soon be coming to the way college athletes can profit off their name, image and likeness, or NIL. Since NIL legislation was first passed in 2021, student-athletes have had to pursue deals independently of their universities. But under the terms of a legal settlement announced last year, colleges could devote up to $20.5 million in athletic revenue to directly paying athletes for use of their name, image and likeness. The agreement still needs final approval from a federal judge, but is expected to be resolved in the coming weeks.

Lauren Anderson is the director of the Warsaw Sports Business Center at the University of Oregon. She joins us with more details on the settlement and its implications for college athletic programs in Oregon.