NIL
NIL Rights: What Student-Athletes Need to Know in 2026
A comprehensive guide to Name, Image, and Likeness rights for college athletes navigating endorsement deals and brand partnerships.
January 26, 2026
NIL, student-athletes, college sports, endorsements
NIL Rights: What Student-Athletes Need to Know in 2026
The landscape of college athletics changed forever when the NCAA adopted Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies. Here is what every student-athlete should understand about monetizing their personal brand.
What Are NIL Rights?
NIL rights allow student-athletes to profit from their name in endorsements, image in photographs, and likeness in merchandise.
NILstudent-athletescollege sportsendorsements
Eddie Street, Esq.
Founder & Managing Attorney, Street Law, PLLC
Eddie Street is a federal intellectual property attorney specializing in copyright, trademark, NIL representation, and entertainment law. He provides strategic counsel to creators, athletes, and media professionals nationwide.