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ARTICLE · 03 SEPTEMBER 2025

Market Intelligence Thought Leadership Award Winner

Why Direct Student-Athlete Payments Create An Immigration Crisis For Universities

The intersection of NIL (name, image, likeness) and immigration law has become one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing collegiate athletics today.

United StatesImmigration

The intersection of NIL (name, image, likeness) and immigration law has become one of the most pressing and complex challenges facing collegiate athletics today. The provisionally approved settlement in House v. NCAA, which proposes direct revenue-sharing of $21–22 million per school, coupled with the growing number of States that have passed laws authorizing higher education institutions to make direct payments to their athletes, has transformed what was once a niche issue into a major compliance concern for universities nationwide. For institutions with international student-athletes, this new reality brings significant risks that demand immediate attention.

From Student Issue to Institutional Liability

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