TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Paul Burch on Feb 23, 2024

Eastern District of Tennessee Judge Clifton Corker today granted a preliminary injunction suspending NCAA rules regarding name, image and likeness (NIL) benefits, finding the rules likely violate federal antitrust law and caused irreparable damage to athletes. Knox News reports that while the federal case is not directly connected to an NCAA investigation into University of Tennessee, the injunction makes it more difficult to pursue. The decision could have a significant impact on college sports, as the NCAA's rules banning NIL recruiting inducements are suspended for more than 523,000 athletes at 1,088 institutions. College recruits and transfers can now negotiate and sign NIL contracts before enrolling at a university. Attorneys general in Tennessee and Virginia argued that the rules should be suspended immediately because recruits are losing leverage without the ability to negotiate their fair market value.