Eighteen Nebraska football players have initiated a landmark enforcement challenge following the dismissal of their NIL arbitration case with the University Athletic Commission (UAC). A neutral arbitrator upheld the UAC’s application of rules concerning a third-party NIL agreement between PlayFly and the players. The Collegiate Sports Commission (CSC), responsible for revenue sharing and NIL regulations, had previously rejected the players’ NIL deals, which included payments from PlayFly—a company that has partnered with Nebraska and paid over $300 million in multimedia royalties since 2022.
PlayFly pledged $10.25 million for NIL payments, primarily through June, but CSC classified it as a related entity, which affects how deals are structured. CSC CEO Brian Seeley expressed satisfaction with the arbitrator’s decision, indicating confidence in the system’s workings.
The situation may escalate with Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who has suggested he would sue if CSC prevails, noting that state law prohibits penalizing players for participating in NIL. The arbitrator agreed with CSC’s rules enforcement but found no consensus on whether the transaction terms were equivalent to compensation for similar individuals.
Nebraska athletic director Troy Dunnen praised the student-athletes for their conduct during the process and reiterated the university’s commitment to helping them maximize their NIL value.
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