What Every Athlete and Parent Needs to Know About NIL in 2025

SR Global
Jun 24
3 min read

Featuring Kristi Dosh on the Inside #CollegeSoccer Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfx2L2Z4650

College sports are changing fast. From $20 million revenue sharing deals to 12-year-olds signing brand endorsements, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) is no longer just about elite athletes or flashy endorsements. It’s reshaping how recruiting, scholarships, and team rosters work across the board.

In our latest episode of the Inside #CollegeSoccer Podcast, Don Williams sits down with Kristi Dosh(@SportsBizMiss) — sports business reporter, former ESPN contributor, and author of the new book The Athlete’s NIL Playbook — to break down exactly what’s happening, why it matters, and what athletes and families need to do now.

This isn’t just a conversation — it’s a masterclass.

📘 Meet the Expert: Kristi Dosh

Kristi has been reporting on NIL since before the NCAA rules even changed. She teaches NIL courses at the University of Florida, runs one of the most-read blogs on college sports business, and has become one of the go-to experts on NIL and revenue sharing.

Her upcoming book, The Athlete’s NIL Playbook, is the most comprehensive guide we’ve seen — and it’s written for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone navigating this confusing space. It releases July 2, 2025, and is already available for pre-order.

“One of the biggest reasons I wrote The Athlete’s NIL Playbook was to educate parents. So little education is being offered, and it can be a lot to navigate.”

— Kristi Dosh (@SportsBizMiss)

🧠 Key Lessons from the Episode

Here’s a snapshot of what we covered — and why it matters for you, your players, or your family:

💰 1. NIL Is Not Just for D1 Stars

Kristi spotlights athletes from D3 schools, Olympic sports, and even walk-ons who are cashing in on NIL through smart branding, local business outreach, and creative content. One volleyball player landed a Lululemon sponsorship without a huge following — just a consistent, clever show she ran on Instagram.

Takeaway: If you’re in college athletics and you’re not exploring NIL, you’re missing out — regardless of level or sport.

🤝 2. Collectives Are Redefining Recruiting

NIL collectives — donor-led groups funneling money to athletes — are the new power brokers. While technically not supposed to be “pay-for-play,” in many cases, that’s exactly what they’re becoming.

These collectives are:

Helping schools land recruits
Offering six and seven-figure deals
Creating tension around fairness, transparency, and Title IX

Takeaway: If you’re being recruited, you need to understand how and from where the NIL money is coming — and what expectations come with it.

💸 3. Revenue Sharing Is Here (and It’s Big)

The House v. NCAA settlement, finalized in June 2025, means schools can now pay athletes directly, up to $20.5 million annually.

This comes with major shifts:

Roster limits replace scholarship caps (e.g., D1 women’s soccer now capped at 28 players)
Walk-ons may vanish
Revenue sharing contracts can be 2 pages or 16 pages — and contain clauses about transferring, behavior, and more

Takeaway: Athletes and parents should never sign these contracts without legal review. The rules are complex, and the consequences are real.

👶 4. NIL Starts Younger Than You Think

We discussed a 12-year-old athlete closing her own brand deal. In many states, high school NIL is now fully legal, and some families are being approached by agents when their kids are barely teenagers.

Takeaway: Parents need to be educated. Don’t get caught off guard by a fast-talking agent or an unregulated opportunity that could affect eligibility.

⚖️ 5. The Legal Landscape Is Shifting (Fast)

Expect lawsuits in the coming years over:

Title IX compliance (are men’s and women’s sports being compensated fairly?)
Antitrust law (is the $20.5M revenue sharing cap legal?)
Contract enforcement (e.g., can a school sue an athlete for transferring?)

Plus, all NIL deals over $600 must now be submitted to a national clearinghouse run by Deloitte — part of a growing attempt to regulate the chaos.

Takeaway: The “wild west” of NIL is starting to get structured — but it’s still volatile. Education and legal help are more important than ever.

🔍 Why This Matters to Our Audience

Whether you’re coaching athletes, advising families, or looking at NIL through the lens of development and recruiting — the rules have changed. And they’ll keep changing.

This conversation with Kristi Dosh is full of practical, plain-English advice you can use today. NIL isn’t going away. If anything, it’s expanding — to more sports, more levels, and younger ages.