NIL stands for name, image, likeness and it is about to change college athletics right before our eyes. After decades of not permitting money-making opportunities through NIL. In July, the NCAA recently changed its policy, allowing athletes to make money from their image or name. 

What does this change mean for athletes? To sum it up, if a college athlete lives within a state where the legislation has been passed, they can now profit from their name, image, or likeness, which they weren't allowed to before. If a college athlete does not live in a state where the legislation has been passed, they may still be able to profit from their NIL depending on the individual school’s policy for its athletes to follow. 

How does this relate to custom apparel you may ask? Well that’s easy, college athletes can now create and sell their own custom apparel to the public! By being able to profit from their name, image, or likeness, they can create and sell custom apparel representing their NIL. There’s many ways this is possible for college athletes to do, one of the most popular being through an agency. This apparel can be anything from t-shirts, sweatshirts, and their jerseys! Some athletes are getting quite creative with their clothing designs. Iowa basketball player Jordan Bohannon launched his own shop selling T-Shirts with the phrase “Thanks for the memz.” Nebraska volleyball player Lexi Sun teamed up with REN Athletics to sell long-sleeve black crew necks with gold suns. Several other players like gymnast Margzetta Fraizer (UCLA) to basketball player Dontaie Allen (Kentucky) are selling apparel and other experiences on The Players Trunk. 

Thanks to the NCAA’s policy change, college athletes can now make money of their own name, image, and likeliness. Now, you may be able to purchase custom merchandise and rep your favorite college athlete while supporting them in a brand new way!