The Big Ten is adopting a conference-level rule limiting its schools’ involvement in third-party NIL agreements ahead of the potential congressional passage of the Protect College Sports Act.
“While we await the passage of the Protect College Sports Act, which has our full support, it is imperative our member institutions can begin to plan, budget and build their rosters approximating the act’s economic structure,” Big Ten chancellors and presidents chair and Indiana president Pamela Whitten said in a statement. “Our institutions remain in full support of the Protect College Sports Act and this rule not only allows for a much smoother transition into the policies put in place by the act once it passes, but demonstrates our commitment to it.”
The PCSA would increase the amount of money schools can spend on direct payments to their players by $27.5 million, more than doubling the current $21.5 million spending cap.
Combined with institutional NIL payments permitted by the House settlement, the conference rule would restrict institutional involvement in student-athlete NIL agreements to a total of about $49 million per institution.
The Big Ten said it would impose escalating financial penalties and other disciplinary measures for violations.
The Big Ten added the rule, passed unanimously among league members, is intended “to both guide member institutions and alert the public as to Big Ten institutional constraints in upcoming NIL discussions with student-athletes.”
According to the Big Ten, the rule effectively begins the process of creating “the financial and operational mechanisms necessary to comply with PCSA limits in advance of upcoming signing and transfer portal windows.” The rule is effective immediately and each institution and its lead athletics staff must attest their compliance with the rule.
This policy applies to institutional action only as student-athletes remain free to pursue NIL opportunities on their own.
