By Andrew Parker 
In February, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Intercollegiate Athlete Compensation and Rights Act into law. This legislation also referred to as HB 7B, was passed by the Florida Legislature in a special session before the regular session started in March. This new law changes the structure of NIL practices in the state of Florida.
The NCAA approved the concept of Name, Image, and Likeness on July 1st, 2021, allowing student-athletes to monetize themselves for their athletic performance in their respective sport. According to analysis, the new law in Florida removes restrictions on universities’ involvement in NIL activities, protects those schools from liability relating to an athlete’s NIL compensation, and provides financial literacy courses for student-athletes.
Along with Billy Napier, the University of Florida’s football coach, Florida State head football coach Mike Norvell stood beside the governor as he signed HB 7B into law. Players from both programs were also in attendance.
Florida State University’s Athletic Director Michael Alford commented on the new NIL law, stating, “This is an important and necessary step in the NIL process to bring [FSU] more in line with what is happening around the country.” The governor said that the goal of this legislation is to ensure that, “athletes are supported and protected under the law.” The first NIL law in Florida was passed in 2020, a year before the NCAA approved the policy.
The changes to Florida’s NIL law have already started to benefit athletes at Florida State University. NIL collectives like Rising Spear and Battle’s End have the support of athletic coaches at FSU.
A NIL collective is independent of the university and brings the financial support of boosters and local businesses together to sign college athletes onto deals in hopes of retaining their athletic services at universities and assisting them in monetizing their brand the way NIL was designed to. The mission of the Battle’s End Collective is to “unlock unlimited perpetual success and joy for [the] faithful FSU family.”
Well-known FSU athletes, such as football player Jordan Travis and softball player Devyn Flaherty, both have had NIL deals with local Tallahassee food service franchises in the past, including Glory Days Grill and Dunkin’ Donuts.
NIL deals come in different shapes and sizes, whether it’s through a local business endorsement, brand deal, or collective agreement. A local sports merchandise store, Garnet and Gold Outlet, sells athletes’ jerseys with their last names on the back, something unable to be ethically done before the NIL era.
The expansion of NIL abilities for universities and athletes in the state of Florida not only benefits the athletes and programs at each school but also the communities that support them.
These NIL collectives and local businesses in Tallahassee are supporting many student-athletes, particularly members of the football team as FSU tries to regain national prominence within its program. Florida’s new NIL law helps schools like Florida State retain athletic talent, compete for championships, and bring revenue into the city of Tallahassee.