Prior to 2021, the NCAA prohibited college athletes from receiving compensation for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). The Supreme Court's unanimous 2021 ruling in NCAA v. Alston found certain NCAA compensation limits violated antitrust law, and the NCAA subsequently adopted a NIL policy allowing athletes to profit from endorsements, social media, autograph signings, and other commercial arrangements. NIL collectives — booster-funded organizations that pool donations to pay athletes — emerged quickly and grew into a de facto salary system, with top college football and basketball players earning millions annually through NIL deals. The Trump executive order of April 3, 2026 sought to ban NIL collectives from paying athletes above "fair market value" and create a federal registry of athlete compensation agreements.