NIL money is accelerating — and the latest numbers are eye‑popping
The College Sports Commission continues to clear money-making deals for NCAA student-athletes to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars
Revealing the latest numbers in name, image and likeness deal-brokering for NCAA student-athletes, the College Sports Commission is coming off a two-month stretch of approving more than $75 million in NIL pacts. In its Thursday, May 7 report, the CSC notes a two-month approval — March 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026 — of more than 5,500 deals worth $75. 85 million.
OPINION: This isn’t NIL anymore — it’s a nine‑figure bidding war The numbers reflect an increase of more than $36 million from the opening two months of 2026; it brings to total $115. 14 million in deal approvals this calendar year -- an average $28. 79 million per month.
Overall, since the launch of the CSC and its partnership with the Deloitte-framed NIL Go third-party approval system, nearly one-quarter of a billion dollars -- $242. 35 million -- in NIL money across 26. 556 deals are being paid out to student-athletes.
POST-SPRING POWER RANKINGS: Big Ten | SEC | Big 12 | ACC While the value of deal approvals is up overall, the CSC does count 442 deals worth $26. 87 million not cleared. Additionally, the pace of deal reviewal and approval reflects a slight dip to 66% resolution within seven days, down from 70% approval within seven days per its previous release.