One of the biggest changes in college sports in recent years has been the shift in the NCAA’s stance on players monetizing the rights to their name, image, and likeness.

Student-athletes can now earn money through their name while playing in college, and it’s changed the way programs recruit. At the University of Florida, new football coach Billy Napier knows NIL opportunities are going to play a part in securing the nation’s top prospects, but he thinks regulations are coming to make things consistent.

“I think we’re all wrapping our arms around him and really wrapping our heads around him, trying to figure out exactly what that entails, where we’re headed,” Napier said. “I think the problems are right now, there are no parameters. There really aren’t any guidelines outside of each state’s laws. I think every university tries to solve this problem, to find the best strategy. This is an area where we have been very aggressive.

Napier’s point is good. Schools in states with more conservative NIL laws will fight an uphill battle against programs with fewer restrictions. The disparity may not be so glaring now, but things could go downhill quickly as programs find the best way to navigate this new revenue stream.

Currently, Florida’s largest partnership is with the Gator Collective, which gives fans greater access to the team through membership. Some individual players have their own deals such as Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson signing with Outback Steakhouse, and Napier has even hired a specialist to focus on NIL opportunities for the team.

“For us, I think that can be a strength,” Napier said. “I think the passion of that fanbase, on the right, University of Florida alumni, we’re over 450,000. We’ve got an amazing sellout regardless of that. So name and image and likeness, it just becomes another strength at the University of Florida.

Until these regulations are in place, Napier is free to pursue any opportunity it believes will benefit the program.

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