EA Sports (EA) is being sued by the Brandr Group (TBG) over the name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal it offered to college athletes for the new College Football video game.[1] EA worked with OneTeam Partners to facilitate any group deals for the game pursuant to an agreement made in May, 2023.[2] The game is... Continue Reading →
This past April, the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 17 that would restrict how the state’s public universities can promote equitable access to higher education and promote diversity among students, faculty and staff. Senate Bill 17 requires universities to close their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, ban mandatory diversity training, and ban hiring departments... Continue Reading →
On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Transformation Committee, which had been charged with reshaping NCAA policies, released its 40-page final report.[1] The Report will next go to the Division I Board of Directors for consideration at the 2023 NCAA Convention in San Antonio next week.[2] The Report details 34 review areas... Continue Reading →
The trial in Gee v NCAA over the potential wrongful death of former University of South California football player Matt Gee came to a close, and the jury sided with the NCAA, finding that the NCAA was not liable in any way for the death of Gee. After about a month, Gee’s counsel was not... Continue Reading →
Recently, college football has undergone several drastic changes, including, the start of the player compensation era, the loosening of transfer restrictions, the seemingly endless realignment of institutions, and much more. With each of these changes, decision makers are looking around wondering what to make of this new age college football and asking themselves who exactly... Continue Reading →
Today, November 17, the University of California Board of Regents (“Board of Regents” or “Board”) will meet to discuss a variety of issues, including UCLA’s move to the Big Ten Conference.[1] Specifically, on June 30, 2022, UCLA suddenly announced its plan to leave the Pac-12 Conference and join the Big Ten Conference beginning in the... Continue Reading →
Background Mr. Bacon began his legal career by pursuing a law degree at Akron University School of Law. Since the beginning, Mr. Bacon always knew that he wanted to work in college athletics. Initially, Mr. Bacon hoped to become a sports agent, as that was his first instinct when thinking about the intersection of sports... Continue Reading →
[1] Last week, Montana State Senator Ellie Boldman requested a bill be drafted with the intent of bringing ESPN’s pregame show “College GameDay” to Montana.[2] Ever since College GameDay premiered for Notre Dame-Florida State in 1993, the show has traveled across the US to different host schools each week during the college football season to... Continue Reading →
In recent months, name, image, and likeness opportunities have quickly filtered down from the collegiate ranks to the high school and youth levels. To protect youth athletes in this space, Philadelphia Councilmember Isaiah Thomas recently introduced the “Philly NIL Youth Protection Act.”[1] The purpose of this ordinance is to establish provisions related to education and... Continue Reading →
A massive case regarding CTE and NCAA football has gone to trial for only the second time, as the widow (Alana Gee) of former USC linebacker Matt Gee is suing the NCAA for wrongful death in Los Angeles Superior Court.[1] Gee was the fifth linebacker from the 1989 USC football team to die before the... Continue Reading →