Trump's Title IX/NIL Changes

Trump's education officials announce change to Title IX NIL guidance. 

February 13, 2025

Education Department Rescinds Biden Memo That Threatened to Upend College NIL Payments
The U.S. Education Department is scrapping last-minute guidance issued by the Biden administration that threatened to upend colleges’ plans to pay athletes for their name, image and likeness by making those payments subject to federal Title IX rules.

In a move that was largely expected, President Donald Trump’s education officials announced the change Wednesday, saying the memo from former President Joe Biden’s final days in office had no legal basis under Title IX, the 1972 law forbidding sex discrimination in education.
^{AP News}

Eagles’ Roster Overhaul Between Two Super Bowl Titles is an NFL Rarity
AP News’ Josh Dubow writes, “Seven years after Doug Pederson and Nick Foles delivered Philadelphia its first Super Bowl title, Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts did it again with a 40-22 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl 59.

“Winning multiple titles in that short a time period is far from rare in the NFL, with the league often dominated by transcendent coach-quarterback combinations. Doing so with different people in those key positions is extremely unusual. Only two other teams have won multiple Super Bowls in a span of eight seasons with a different coach and different quarterback in both wins.”
^{AP News}

Steve Phelps Looks Forward: The NASCAR President Talks About the Possibility of the Sport Accepting Outside Investment, Outlines Global Ambitions
Other top leagues in the U.S. allow private equity investments, including all four of the major stick-and-ball properties. Arctos has the most team investments, with $7.2 billion raised and $4.4 billion committed across 38 investments as of last June, Sports Business Journal previously reported. TKO Group, the publicly traded sports and entertainment holding company of UFC and WWE, has shown interest in investing in motorsports properties, reportedly bidding for MotoGP. UFC CEO Dana White has ties with NASCAR leadership through Thrill One Sports & Entertainment’s Nitrocross property, which could make it a natural candidate to look at investing in NASCAR. TKO declined to comment.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Highest-Paid Athletes in the World: Ronaldo Leads 12 Stars at $100M+
Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen reports: “He’s [Cristiano Ronaldo] the world’s highest-paid athlete for the second straight year, with $260 million in earnings, including $215 million from his Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and $45 million off the field.

“The very top earners are all on the back nine of their careers, with 33-year-old Neymar the lone athlete under 36 among the eight highest-paid athletes in the world in 2024. Rounding out the top five after Ronaldo are Stephen Curry ($153.8 million), Tyson Fury ($147 million), Lionel Messi ($135 million) and LeBron James ($133.2 million). James, like Ronaldo, also just turned 40.
^Sportico

Tom Brady Buys 50 Percent Stake in Sports Card Chain Now Called ‘CardVault by Tom Brady’
Tom Brady has purchased a 50 percent stake in a Boston-based sports card and memorabilia chain, which has changed its name to “CardVault by Tom Brady” as a result of the deal. The company says it intends to “go global, with new stores planned across the U.S. and in major international markets,” thanks to Brady’s investment.
^{The Athletic}

Amazon Takes NBA to Market Ahead of Upfronts
SBJ’s Mollie Callihane reports: “Amazon is in market with the NBA ahead of the league’s new media rights deal, and Danielle Carney, head of U.S. video and live sports sales, said the company’s official partners are already ‘showing up and showing a lot of interest.’

“During the first year of NFL ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Prime Video, Carney said marketers initially had some hesitation to jump in, but after three years of growth, brands are on board. The company now is bringing what it learned with the NFL to the NBA.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Fans Sue NFL for Not Letting Teams Use Bluesky
FOS’ Margaret Fleming reports: “A pair of Bluesky users filed a lawsuit against the NFL for not letting its teams create individual accounts on the platform due to its partnership with X.

“Patrick Brown and Collin Vincent filed a 14-page complaint Tuesday in the Southern District of New York claiming antitrust violations and alleging the NFL is unlawfully restricting its teams and fans from engaging on the new platform. The suit says Brown wants to follow the Bears on Bluesky and Vincent wants to follow the Seahawks.”
^{Front Office Sports}

Report: Ohio State Finalizing Deal With Ex-Lions Coach Matt Patricia to Run Buckeyes' Defense
According to ESPN via Yahoo Sports, Ohio State is finalizing a deal with former Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia to replace Jim Knowles after its national title-winning season. Knowles left Ohio State to take the same position at Penn State and become the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football.

Patricia most recently served as a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. He was the head coach of the Lions from 2018-20 and the team went 13-29 in his tenure. He was fired 11 games into the 2020 season as the Lions were 4-7.
^{Yahoo! Sports}

Doncic Trade Resulting in ‘Horrid PR’ for Mavericks as Fan Protests Continue
Since Mavericks GM Nico Harrison traded G Luka Doncic last week to the Lakers for F/C Anthony Davis, a “tsunami of historically horrid PR has soaked the Mavericks,” according to Mac Engel of the FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM via SBJ. During the Mavericks’ OT loss on Monday night against the Kings, fans who “spoke out against Harrison were kicked out” of the American Airlines Center. After the game, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd “did not speak to reporters, something he has never done” since he was hired by former owner Mark Cuban on the same day he announced Harrison.
^{Fort Worth Star-Telegram via Sports Business Journal}

Broncos Weighing ‘All Things’ for Stadium: Could a Move Be Next?
FOS’ David Rumsey writes, “Ahead of Super Bowl LIX, owners of both the Eagles and Chiefs talked about the future of their home stadiums. For Philadelphia, those discussions are just beginning, while Kansas City is already in a more contentious situation.

“This season’s AFC and NFC champions aren’t the only franchises with stadium questions, though. The Bears, Browns, and Commanders are also trying to finalize long-term plans for new venues. The Bills and Titans are currently building new stadiums, while the Jaguars and Panthers are starting major renovation projects.”
^{Front Office Sports}

LIV Golf Sees Continued Growth With ‘Flagship’ Adelaide Event
This week’s LIV Golf Adelaide is predicted to have “more than 100,000 people” attending over the three days as the Australian leg is “already LIV Golf’s flagship event,” according to Adam Pengilly of the Adelaide ADVERTISER via SBJ. While the upstart league “still struggles for relevance in the United States,” tournament organizers have “no other way to fit more people into its Australian event other than to go up.” Corporate Australia is “also on board” and brands such as Accor, Asahi, BYD and Ladbrokes have joined as official partners. Sources said that the event will “earn three times as much in sponsorship revenue this year.”
^{Adelaide Advertiser via Sports Business Journal}

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BYU Athletics Director Tom Holmoe Announces His Retirement
Holmoe’s retirement will be effective at the end of the 2024-25 athletic season, the university announced Tuesday.

Holmoe took charge of BYU’s athletics department in 2005. During his 20-year tenure, he guided the university’s football program through a decade of independence and into the Big 12 Conference.
^{AP News}

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