In our latest podcast episode, Don Williams had the privilege of diving deep into the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) with Kristi Dosh, author of the newly released book The Athlete’s NIL Playbook: The Complete Guide to Owning and Profiting from Your Name, Image, and Likeness (available for pre-order, set to release July 2, 2025, from Wiley). Kristi, a leading expert in sports business, shared invaluable insights on navigating the rapidly evolving NIL landscape for athletes at all levels.

We explored the role of NIL collectives, which have become pivotal in facilitating deals for college athletes, often acting as a bridge between donors and players to secure lucrative opportunities. Kristi highlighted how these collectives are reshaping recruiting and team dynamics, particularly in light of the House v. NCAA settlement, which has ushered in a new era of college sports. This landmark settlement, finalized on June 6, 2025, allows schools to directly share up to $20.5 million annually with athletes, eliminates scholarship caps, and introduces roster limits, which could impact team sizes and walk-on opportunities. We also discussed how the settlement’s revenue-sharing model and the creation of the College Sports Commission will regulate NIL deals, with all third-party deals over $600 now subject to review by Deloitte’s NIL Go clearinghouse to ensure fair market value.

The conversation expanded to the growing presence of NIL in high school and even elementary school-aged athletes, emphasizing the need for early education and guidance for young athletes and their families. Kristi stressed the importance of her book as a resource for parents navigating this complex space, a point she echoed in a recent X post: “One of the biggest reasons I wrote The Athlete's NIL Playbook was to educate parents about NIL and revenue sharing. So little education is being offered to parents, and it can be a lot to navigate” (@SportsBizMiss, June 17, 2025).

Looking ahead, we discussed the future of NIL, including the increasing role of agents in helping athletes secure and manage deals. Kristi shared how agents can provide critical support, especially as schools and collectives take on more responsibility for facilitating NIL agreements under the new settlement rules. We also touched on potential challenges, such as Title IX concerns and ongoing lawsuits that could further shape the NIL landscape.

This episode is a must-listen for athletes, parents, and fans looking to understand the business of college sports in the NIL era. Check out Kristi’s book for a comprehensive guide to maximizing NIL opportunities, and follow @SportsBizMiss on Facebook, X, and Instagram for the latest insights on sports business! 🎧 

This episode is brought to you by Sports Recruiting USA, the College Soccer Recruiting Experts.

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