Mississippi State guard/forward Cameron Matthews (4) works the ball downcourt against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) AP
NIL NETWORK INSIGHT
Recap: Mississippi joins Florida, California, and other states to propose legislation around collegiate athlete’s use of their NIL for profit. The bill is supported by all eight of the public universities in Mississippi and Senate Universities and College Committee Chairman Scott Bounds stated that “we need to stay ahead of the curve on our out-of-state universities” in regards to recruiting potential student-athletes.
Observations: States are recognizing the enormous recruiting advantages that institutions in places with NIL legislation will have until a federal bill overrides them. Even if the various state bills don’t end up going into effect, the unknowns at the federal level may drive elite athletes to states that already have, or will have NIL legislation in place by the time they arrive on campus.
BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS ASSOCIATED PRESS
College athletes in Mississippi would be able to earn money from their own name, image or likeness, under a bill that cleared a state House committee Wednesday.
Senate Universities and Colleges Committee Chairman Scott Bounds said all eight of Mississippi’s public universities support the proposal, as does the governing board for the schools.
As Mississippi universities recruit athletes, “we need to be able to stay ahead of the curve on our out-of-state universities,” Bounds said.
