NIL and College Eligibility

The College sports world this day in age is drastically and constantly changing. Name Image and Likeness (NIL) is impacting the way athletes choose a school. Athletes are choosing schools that will give them the most money rather than who has the best coach or program or if the school fits their academic needs.   

Darian Mensah, a quarterback from Duke that signed one of the biggest NIL deals in the history of college sports let alone college football. Mensah’s deal was reportedly a 2 year $4 million dollar deal but this money was well spent as Duke won their conference with Mensah behind center. He  threw for over 3,000 yards and had 34 touchdown passes to only 6 interceptions. Mensah had two choices: declare for the NFL draft or stay with Duke for his last year of eligibility, both of these choices Mensah was fine with.  Mensah’s plan was to stay with Duke and abide by the contract he signed a year prior until the Miami Hurricanes, who just made it to the national championship, stepped in and wanted Mensah to be their next quarterback since Carson Beck left and they subsequently missed on two potential quarterbacks in the transfer portal. As far as Mensah was concerned, he wanted to now take this opportunity and join the Miami Hurricanes.  Duke, on the other hand, did not want this to happen for two big reasons. One, they are in the same conference and two and most importantly, he was already signed to a two year contract to play for Duke. Duke ultimately sued Mensah; citing the signed contract and claiming "irreparable harm" if the QB was able to escape his contract without any ramifications.  Duke did not take it into the court system and ended up letting Mensah go to Miami.

 "I want to make the NFL. I want to be a first-round draft pick. And all signs point towards Miami”.  Mensah said. 

Both Mensah and Duke reached a mutual settlement on January 27,2026 ending the contract. 

In its statement, "enables both parties to move forward," Duke University said. 

 Mensah or more likely Miami paid the exit contract rather than being owed money from Duke. 

“ It all doesn't really make sense to me. Signing contracts in college sports is wild but I don't know how he can sign the contract for two years then leave it with no setbacks to his next season. All this stuff is ruining the game,” NHS senior Emmet Regan said.

Also  causing confusion around the college sports world is the college basketball eligibility rules, allowing players who have signed NBA contracts back on to college teams. The NCAA backwards logic says that even though players  are drafted into the NBA you are not technically an NBA player. Meaning players like James Nnaji who was picked 31st overall in the 2023 draft still meets NCAA eligibility requirements. 

"Does anybody care what this is doing for 17- and 18-year-old American kids? Do you know what this opportunity has done for them and their families? There aren't going to be any high school kids. Who other than dumb people like me are going to recruit high school kids? … I'm going to keep doing it. But why would anybody else if you can get NBA players, G League players, guys that are 28 years old, guys from Europe?" Head Coach of Arkansas Men's Basketball John Calipari said. 

Nnaji now plays for the Baylor Bears in the 2026 season.  Seeing that other schools do this naturally other programs tried to do the same.  

"A guy can be in the G League for two or three years and all of a sudden he's eligible? Most of my people knew nothing about it. I'm not really excited about the NCAA or whoever's making these decisions not talking to us, just letting it go because they're afraid they're gonna get sued." Head Coach of Michigan State men’s basketball Tom Izzo said. 

Alabama’s Charles Bediako made his return to college basketball on January 24, 2026 after 3 years of being in the NBA. Bediako signed three different contracts with NBA teams and a two way contract with the Spurs. Technically, Bedikao had forfeited his last year of college eligibility when he went pro.  He then sued the NCAA for denying his initial request to return to Alabama and was granted a temporary restraining order by Judge James Roberts Jr. He played in 60 games for Bama from 2021-23 and now at least 3 in 2026.

“It is absurd to me that players that signed NBA contracts are competing in college games, like they can be 24 years old with NBA experience competing versus 17 year olds, doesn't make sense to me,” NHS senior Aidan Walker said.

The rules are definitely causing harm to the game as most coaches and players are saying. NCAA rules are going to cause problems in the recruiting of high school games. But how long until these rules change? Will it ever?