NIL Economics Governance & Controls Brand Monetization

NIL is a Financial System

NIL affects recruiting, donor behavior, compliance exposure, and brand monetization. Treating it as marketing invites risk. Treating it as an economic subsystem creates advantage.

“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.”

— W. Edwards Deming

What the CFO must govern

Policy & Oversight

Clear interfaces across athletics, campus leadership, foundations, and external NIL entities.

Controls & Reporting

Defined metrics, transparent reporting, and auditable workflows that protect institutional credibility.

ROI & Competitive Outcomes

Metrics that connect NIL investments to recruiting outcomes, retention, and brand value.

Practical point: NIL content capability (creative + analytics) is now part of the competitive operating system. Finance leadership ensures that capability stays aligned with governance, mission, and measurable outcomes.