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n a new Mountain America Credit Union commercial, Utah quarterback Cam Rising and BYU receiver Kody Epps banter over which credit card offering is best. Epps suggests fans get a blue Visa Rewards card, while Rising touts a red Visa Cash Back card.
Just over two years ago, featuring college athletes like Rising and Epps in a television ad for a product would never have happened. Not because they come from rival schools (the late BYU coach LaVell Edwards and former Utah coach Ron McBride broke that barrier years ago) but because it would have violated all sorts of NCAA rules.
While coaches could pitch goods and services, like Edwards and McBride did in those Bank One “buddy” spots years ago, players were strictly prohibited from making money off their status on the field or the court.
That all changed in August 2021 after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling paved the way for college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, simply known as NIL.
Rising could have turned pro after last season. But he decided to return to Utah even before suffering a knee injury in the Rose Bowl that has kept him on the sidelines so far this year. He acknowledged the ability to earn money through NIL factored into his decision.
“I mean, a little part, but nothing (really significant). Yeah, it was a part of it,” Rising told the Deseret News at Pac-12 media day in July.
NIL, Rising said, has improved his life.
“I have met people and been a part of different situations that I really didn’t have exposure to and because of that I have more connections and stuff like that. I think it has been just beneficial and made my life that much easier,” he said.
And on top of that, Rising and the other 84 Utah scholarship football players could be driving a 2024 Dodge Ram truck courtesy of a new team NIL deal announced last week.
In a very short time, NIL has cemented itself not only as an integral pillar but a looming threat to the rapidly…
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