SEC adopts standardized NIL contracts in latest step toward self-governance

After the Big Ten implemented a uniform athlete contract model, the SEC has followed suit, with school presidents voting Monday to standardize NIL and revenue-share agreements SEC presidents voted Monday to adopt uniform NIL and revenue-share contracts across the league, effective immediately, sources told CBS Sports. The SEC joins the Big Ten as the second power conference to adopt standardized athlete contracts. Schools can share up to $21.6 million in revenue directly with athletes this academic year, the second year of the 10-year window under the House v. NCAA settlement. Players received nearly $1.8 billion in direct revenue-share payments during the 2025-26 school year, according to the College Sports Commission.

The SEC's new NIL contract includes customizable sections, sources said, but CBS Sports was not given specifics. The Big Ten drafted a standardized memorandum of understanding for its schools before the House v. NCAA settlement took effect in July 2025. The template allowed schools to tweak and customize the deals. Public records requests in January 2026 revealed notable differences among member institutions in the Big Ten's standardized agreements. For example, Washington added a liquidated damages clause for a player entering the transfer portal, making him or the new school liable for the remainder of the contract's value, according to documents obtained by Kristi Dosh of Extra Points. The documents also