NCAA President Calls NIL 'Dysfunctional,' Urges Reform

NCAA President Charlie Baker calls for urgent Congressional action on NIL regulations, citing dysfunction and athlete exploitation.

Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; NCAA president Charlie Baker looks on during halftime between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In a recent statement on X, NCAA President Charlie Baker sounded the alarm about the urgent need to address the current state of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements in college sports. He labeled the environment as 'dysfunctional,' a term that accurately reflects the severity of the situation, especially in the wake of troubling incidents, including the Matthew Sluka situation.

Sluka's experience symbolizes the broader issues plaguing NIL agreements. Initially promised a minimum of $100,000 during his recruitment, he received only a meager $3,000 relocation fee, leading to him leaving the program. Situations like these raise serious questions about the integrity of NIL contracts and the responsibilities of both schools and agents in honoring their commitments. Baker's acknowledgment of such cases is a step in the right direction, yet it also reveals the NCAA's failure to provide adequate oversight and protection for student-athletes.

Baker has called for Congressional action to establish national guidelines for NIL agreements, arguing that student-athletes deserve the same protections as consumers in other markets. While his advocacy for standard contracts is commendable, it also exposes the limitations of the NCAA's authority. Despite efforts to create a template contract with recommended terms, the organization lacks the power to enforce these standards, leaving student-athletes vulnerable to exploitation. This lack of oversight has resulted in ongoing legal challenges and a chaotic NIL landscape, where promises made to athletes can easily fall through the cracks.

The NCAA is currently embroiled in a lawsuit that could lead to a staggering $2.78 billion settlement for current and former players, further complicating the organization's ability to regulate NIL deals. Baker's push for clearer regulations from Congress is not a plea for reform but a desperate attempt to regain control over a system that has spiraled out of the NCAA's reach. However, the question remains: why has it taken so long for the NCAA to recognize the need for such reforms?

Critics, including ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, argue that the NCAA should eliminate restrictions on direct payments to athletes. In response to Baker's Statement on X, Bilas stated, “If the NCAA wants to protect athletes, remove all restrictions on schools paying players directly. It’s not that hard. Coaches and administrators have contracts and aren’t reliant on third-party compensation, just pretending it’s not the school paying. The free market works for everyone else. It will work for athletes.”

While Charlie Baker's statement sheds light on critical issues within NIL, it also serves as a reminder of the NCAA's shortcomings in managing this new industry. The call for legislative action is necessary to create a more equitable and transparent environment for student-athletes. However, without genuine accountability and a willingness to embrace change, the dysfunction that Baker describes may persist, leaving student-athletes to navigate a treacherous landscape of unfulfilled promises and exploitation. The time for reform is now, and the NCAA must take decisive action to protect the very athletes it claims to serve.