Virginia law allows the states colleges and universities to directly pay athletes through NIL deals | KLRT [Video]

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed measure into law Thursday that allows state colleges and universities to directly pay their athletes through name, image and likeness compensation deals, a measure believed to be the first of its kind.

The law, which takes effect July 1, was signed one day after the NCAA eased some of its NIL restrictions but noted that its longstanding “prohibitions against pay-for-play and schools compensating student-athletes for use of their NIL remain in place.”

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said other states may follow Virginia’s lead. Several states have legislation pending, including Oklahoma, Nebraska and Louisiana.

“The Virginia decision — by the lawmakers there and the governor to sign it — I think really kickstarts it and puts it right at all of our doorsteps,” Manuel said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The NCAA in July 2021 allowed college athletes to …