## Donor Fatigue Meets New NIL Rules: A Test for College Athletics

Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen isn't shy about the challenges facing college sports in the wake of sweeping name, image, and likeness (NIL) reforms. 

"Some people are betting that since it’s happened, there’s no way you go backwards," Dannen said. "This has to hold. This has to work."

He's referring to the new House Settlement, a landmark agreement allowing revenue sharing between schools and athletes. While it signifies a shift from the free-for-all of recent NIL seasons, it doesn't eliminate donor fatigue entirely. 

"The money that was coming in and frontloading and the money that was there for NIL the last two, three years – that was not an endless stream," Dannen explained. "It’s not just here, but it’s across the country." Now, with schools directly paying athletes through revenue sharing, some donors are questioning their own contributions: “Why am I writing a check if you’re paying them?”

The House Settlement allocates up to $20.5 million across sports, primarily earmarked for football. It aims to curb rampant spending by implementing stricter regulations.  Deals exceeding $600 require third-party approval and must be processed through a new clearinghouse called NIL Go. 

A dedicated enforcement arm has also been established to address violations. 

Despite these measures, Dannen remains cautious. "The biggest question is, what are we going to do with high school recruiting? Because the frontloading has moved to high school recruiting," he stated. The settlement's lack of control over pre-enrollment deals allows for potential circumvention, leading to a "a lot of money going pre-enrollment right now as a way to circumvent the gap."

The long-term impact of the House Settlement remains unclear. 

"There’s a lot of us that have made suggestions about what we should do from a regulatory standpoint. We’re waiting," Dannen said. This uncertainty fuels frustration among athletic directors like himself who are urging patience and regulation to ensure fairness in the evolving landscape.


Ultimately, Dannen emphasizes the need for balance: avoiding donor fatigue while securing competitive rosters.  Success on the field is paramount, but only time will tell how these new rules shape the future of college athletics. 


## Donor Fatigue Meets New NIL Rules: A Test for College Athletics

Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen isn't shy about the challenges facing college sports 

Troy Dannen admits there was ‘donor weariness’ at Nebraska o

Troy Dannen admits there was ‘donor weariness’ at Nebraska over paying players

## College Football on Trial: Miami to Fight Wisconsin Lawsuit

**A landmark legal battle is brewing in college football as the University of Miami prepares to fight back against a lawsuit filed by the University of Wisconsin.** The suit, alleging tortious interference and financial damages, centers around the transfer of standout cornerback Xavier Lucas from Wisconsin to Miami.  

**Wisconsin Claims Interference with Revenue Sharing**

The lawsuit, filed in June in a Wisconsin state circuit court, claims that Miami interfered with a binding revenue-sharing deal involving Wisconsin and Lucas. According to the complaint, Miami communicated directly with Lucas and “knowingly induced” him to leave Wisconsin without entering the NCAA’s transfer portal.  

Miami is expected to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit by Friday, sources say. The University of Miami declined to comment on the matter. 

**Lucas: Caught in the Crossfire?**

While not named directly in the complaint, Lucas is identified as “Student Athlete A.” His attorney, Darren Heitner, previously alleged that Wisconsin violated NCAA rules by failing to put Lucas into the transfer portal after multiple requests.  

“We are displeased that Wisconsin is suing Miami, and I have heard from other athletes who are concerned about the approach Wisconsin is taking,” said Heitner in a statement. “Athletes like Xavier are watching this and are understandably worried that a school could potentially take the extra step and sue a student when the school was in the wrong for violating NCAA rules.”

He added, "The only issue here is that Wisconsin failed to place Xavier’s name into the transfer portal, as required, leaving Xavier with scrambling to find a solution, which was ultimately to unenroll when he felt trapped."

Lucas, a standout freshman cornerback for the Badgers in 2024, posted 18 tackles and an interception in seven games. He withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami in January, bypassing the NCAA’s transfer portal.  

**Big Ten Stands With Wisconsin**

In a further twist, the Big Ten publicly voiced its support for Wisconsin's lawsuit in June, stating that "The University of Miami’s actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison’s efforts to preserve.”


**Transfer Portal Under Fire** 

This legal battle highlights the growing tension surrounding the NCAA transfer portal. Coaches have criticized the ease with which athletes can "hit free agency," while players increasingly leverage schools against each other for lucrative NIL deals.   


## College Football on Trial: Miami to Fight Wisconsin Lawsuit

**A landmark legal battle is brewing in college football as the University of Miami prepares to 

#College nil news

Troy Dannen admits there was ‘donor weariness’ at Nebraska over paying players

Miami expected to file motion to dismiss against Wisconsin in Xavier Lucas lawsuit