top of page
Sideline Statutes—Where law and sports collide.

NCAA/NIL
Covering stories about the college athletics and ongoing developments in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).


Continued Coaching Contract Analysis: Lane Kiffin (Part III)
Lane Kiffin’s swift exit from Ole Miss to LSU was a masterclass in the stark realities of market leverage, featuring all the political posturing that often surrounds high-profile coaching searches. While much of the public discourse has centered on the chaotic optics of Kiffin leaving Oxford just as his team appears primed to secure a historic College Football Playoff berth, the true narrative can be found within the four corners of his new contract. This deal is far more tha
Oliver Canning
Dec 23 min read


Continued Coaching Contract Analysis: Brian Kelly and James Franklin (Part II)
Following my recent analyses of Bill Belichick’s unconventional deal at UNC and James Franklin’s offset-driven buyout at Penn State, the latest development in Baton Rouge offers another fascinating glimpse into how legal drafting quietly shapes the economics of college football. LSU’s decision to part ways with Brian Kelly, just three and a half seasons into a 10-year, $100 million contract, triggered one of the largest potential buyouts in college sports history, estimated a
Oliver Canning
Nov 214 min read


A Comparative Analysis of the Coaching Contracts of Bill Belichick and James Franklin
I found the recent revelations about Bill Belichick’s University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coaching contract deeply fascinating from a legal standpoint. What appears to be a standard five-year deal is actually built around one of the most unusual severance and guarantee structures we’ve seen in college athletics. Under the contract’s escape clause, UNC must fully guarantee Belichick’s compensation for the first three years (regardless of termination without cause) but
Oliver Canning
Oct 153 min read


Sunken Claims — Louisiana Court Dismisses Former Swimmer’s Concussion Suit Against Tulane
The Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal recently upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by former Tulane University swimmer...
Oliver Canning
Sep 232 min read


Why Hosting Major Sporting Events Can Be a Smart Economic Play—Both for Cities and Their Communities
Whenever a city can host a major sporting event—no matter if it’s the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, All-Star Game, or National...
Oliver Canning
Aug 95 min read


The New Reality for Team Doctors in the NIL Era: Liability, Pressure, and a Shifting Relationship
In 2023, a jury sent shockwaves through the world of sports medicine when it awarded former Philadelphia Eagles player Chris Maragos...
Oliver Canning
Jun 303 min read


Maddening March: Amid Record Big Dance Financials and NIL Rollbacks, Amateurism Sings Its Last Song
It’s no secret that March is the most lucrative time of the year for the NCAA, which reported just over $1.38 billion in earnings for...
Oliver Canning
Mar 234 min read


Counting Factors, Not Fumbles: Why the Johnson “Economic Realities” Test Will Become the New Benchmark for Assessing Student-Athlete Employment Protection Claims
In Johnson v. NCAA , the Third Circuit allowed student-athletes to bring claims for relief under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA),...
Oliver Canning
Mar 310 min read


Pepper Spray and Pandemonium: A Shocking End to “The Game”
Credit: Detroit Free Press As the final whistle blew on the 120th rendition of “The Game,” Michigan players jubilantly celebrated their...
Oliver Canning
Dec 18, 202411 min read


From Bayou to Big House: Bryce Underwood's Stunning Flip and the Future of NIL in College Football
Last week, Bryce Underwood, a 5-star quarterback and the nation’s top high school recruit, sent shockwaves through college football when...
Oliver Canning
Dec 18, 20245 min read


Wemby We Turnt : NIL Concerns Over Group Licensing in a Potential Post-House Era
With the House settlement being granted preliminary approval [i] earlier this month, many have begun to speculate about what name,...
Oliver Canning
Dec 18, 20245 min read
bottom of page