A few weeks ago, as news broke around the most public recruiting drama of the NIL era—the alleged $13 million deal for a Florida quarterback signee—NCAA vice president of enforcement Jon Duncan delivered a message to a crowd of administrators at the NCAA’s annual convention.
The NCAA and enforcement staff will no longer be hamstrung by uncooperative witnesses when it comes to potential name, image and likeness (NIL) violations, thanks to a new bylaw that went into effect Jan. 1.
Investigators can now use circumstantial evidence (like a tip or news story) instead of on-record sourcing to presume a school violated NCAA rules. Schools can disprove the allegation or else be potentially charged. The move strengthens the enforcement staff’s ability to charge schools and allows more leeway for investigators.
