Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman Raises Concerns Over NIL Rules

The debate surrounding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules in college sports continues in 2025, with Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman voicing concerns about their impact on student-athletes and smaller programs, K2 Radio reports.

NIL policies, introduced by the NCAA in 2021, allow college athletes to earn money through endorsements, sponsorships, and social media opportunities. While many view this as a positive step for athletes’ financial independence, it has also raised concerns about competitive balance in college sports.

Rep. Hageman recently expressed her views in a video posted to Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), stating:

“Under current NIL rules, someone like Josh Allen, one of the greatest players of all time, can get lured away from a school like Wyoming and set a player’s education and their team back years. I want to protect both college athletes and college sports programs.”

Hageman’s concerns reflect a broader conversation among lawmakers, particularly within the Republican-controlled Congress. Florida Representative Gus Bilirakis, chairman of the House subcommittee on the issue, echoed similar sentiments, stating:

“We need to save college sports as we know it.”

There are multiple efforts in Congress to establish a federal NIL law, aiming to create clearer guidelines and prevent what some see as an imbalanced recruiting environment.

Earlier this year, NCAA President Charlie Baker, a former Republican governor of Massachusetts, warned that if all student-athletes were classified as employees, it could lead to the disappearance of many college sports programs, particularly at smaller schools and in Olympic sports, due to financial constraints.

A recent ESPN report highlights concerns that antitrust lawsuits could prevent the NCAA from enforcing uniform regulations, leading to an unregulated market where wealthier schools have an overwhelming competitive advantage. Some fear this could result in a division within college athletics, where top programs break away from the rest, potentially harming smaller schools, student-athletes, and fan engagement.