Florida’s public university leaders on Monday began charting a path through the new world order of college athletics, where new legal rulings and athlete compensation are reshaping how schools compete — and how they pay for it. A newly formed task force created by the State University System’s Board of Governors held its first meeting, bringing together trustees, athletic directors and outside advisers to confront the financial and legal uncertainty surrounding “Name, Image and Likeness,” or NIL.
“We are in uncharted territory,” said Ken Jones, chair of the Task Force, in his opening remarks. “The old model is gone. Our responsibility now is to ensure Florida’s universities not only adapt, but lead in this new environment.”
The urgency stems from a series of legal and policy changes that have upended amateurism in college athletics. Athletes can now profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), and recent court decisions and pending litigation threaten to further blur the line between student-athletes and employees.
The 16-member task force, which includes representatives from the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida, and other state institutions, will develop recommendations on how schools should handle NIL collectives, potential revenue-sharing models, and Title IX implications.
“The financial implications are staggering,” said Peter Collins, FSU BOT Chair and Task Force Member. “We’re talking about potentially millions of dollars in new expenses—whether through direct compensation, benefits, or legal costs—at a time when many athletic departments are already operating at a deficit.”
“I don't think we need more money. I think we need firmer guidelines that include penalties for violators of NIL or revenue sharing. I think we need an antitrust exemption,” Collins said. “I do think that we need a commission that has very clear rules. There's penalties. None of us want to be penalized. But we all want penalties if the rules aren't followed. Because if there's no penalties, the rules aren't going to be followed. There's too many players out there.”
Anticipating a federal judge to rule against any executive order issued by Trump, Collins said more than 140 FSU student-athletes have NIL deals in place. Collins put the average deal around $4,000 to $5,000. “It’s not in the millions of dollars,” Collins said.
Several athletic directors voiced concerns about the rise of donor-backed NIL collectives, which have become critical tools for recruiting and retaining talent but operate in a regulatory gray area. The lack of uniform national regulation has created a “wild west” environment, several members noted, where deep-pocketed boosters can effectively pay players without direct university involvement.
The task force also grappled with how athlete compensation could affect gender equity. Under Title IX, any benefits provided to athletes—including NIL-related payments facilitated by the university—may need to be balanced across men’s and women’s sports.
“We cannot sacrifice decades of progress toward equity,” said one task force member. “How we structure these new systems will define college sports for a generation.”
The group plans to meet throughout the year and deliver a final report to the Board of Governors by December. Its recommendations could influence not only policy within Florida but also shape the national conversation as states and the NCAA struggle to keep pace with change.
“This isn’t just about sports,” said Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of the State University System. “It’s about the future of our universities, their identities, and their financial stability. What we decide here in Florida will reverberate nationwide.”