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This Week in NIL: Wembanyama Fights for NIL rights, Jalen Milroe signs with Panini, and Clemson introduces Athletic Fee

This week in the NIL world brings a mix of legal battles, exciting partnerships, and financial changes, highlighting complexities in this rapidly growing space surrounding the Name, Image, and Likeness deals in the college and professional world.


Victor Wembanyama Sues over Unauthorized NIL Use


Although the NIL industry is new to the NCAA, the professional world has been dealing with NIL for years. Recently, NBA star and San Antonio Spurs sophomore has been pursuing legal action to protect his NIL rights. The San Antonio Spurs’ rising talent has filed a lawsuit against James T. Goodrich, accusing the Texas man of profiting off his image by selling unauthorized merchandise, including shirts, candles, and more. Wembanyama’s legal team argues that Glodich’s actions harm the value of his NIL and create a false impression of endorsement. This lawsuit could set a significant precedent for how amateur and professional athletes can defend their NIL from unauthorized use.


Alabama’s Jalen Milroe Signs NIL Deal with Panini America


Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is the latest college football star to join Panini America’s roster of athletes. The exclusive NIL partnership will include autographed trading cards and marketing materials featuring Milroe. With over 1,400 passing yards and 23 total touchdowns this season, Mi
lroe continues to build his impressive NIL portfolio, including deals with brands like Celsius, Beats by Dre, and Hey Dude. Panini’s addition of Milroe reflects the growing demand for college athletes in the trading card industry.


Clemson’s Athletics Fee Misses the Mark


Clemson University’s decision to implement a $150 per semester athletics fee, starting in Fall 2025, raises serious concerns about fairness and the financial burden on students. While the university claims the fee will support student-athlete services and operational costs, it is hard not to see this as another example of schools passing the buck onto students. The athletics department already enjoys significant revenue from football and basketball programs, and with NIL deals flourishing, it is questionable why students should be forced to shoulder more costs.


The $8 million expected to be generated by this fee could have been raised through other avenues, such as corporate sponsorships or increased alum donations. Asking students—many of whom may not even follow sports—to pay more for an athletics program they might not directly benefit from feels unjust. Even worse, this move sets a concerning precedent, signaling to other schools that offloading rising athletics costs onto the general student body is acceptable. Rather than fostering a better college experience, this decision creates unnecessary financial strain, especially when so many other options could have been explored. Clemson missed the mark on this one.


This week's NIL developments highlight this evolving space's potential and pitfalls. The NIL space is very immersive and diverse, from the professional space to programs adding tuition fees to new collegiate deals.

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