The NIL Landscape: Texas A&M’s Stellar Gains and Ongoing Inequities

At a time when Nick Saban expressed concern over the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college football, Texas A&M’s head coach Mike Elko embraced the change. “Now, more than ever, this sport needs somebody to step in and create some type of rules and regulations," he declared in a press conference last December. Elko’s open-mindedness toward NIL and the transfer portal has indeed paid off for his program, positioning Texas A&M as a significant player in the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.

Texas A&M’s Financial Milestone

As of spring 2024, only 67 NCAA athletics programs reported revenues exceeding $51 million. Texas A&M proudly found itself in that category, with its athletes collectively earning over $51 million in NIL deals during the 2024 fiscal year. According to documents obtained by The Eagle, the Aggies secured $51.4 million in NIL compensation from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. This astonishing figure represents more than a 250% year-over-year increase from the previous tally of $19.4 million.

This NIL success places Texas A&M above the reported revenues of 165 NCAA athletic programs, as showcased in USA Today’s spring 2024 finances report. However, while this growth is celebrated, it also highlights a concerning inequality in how those funds are distributed among male and female athletes.

The Uncomfortable NIL Gap

Despite the record-breaking figures, the NIL distribution at Texas A&M has drawn scrutiny. On July 21, Front Office Sports reported a staggering contrast in earnings between male and female athletes at the institution. Men’s sports received a combined total of $49.2 million, while women’s sports received just $2.2 million. This translates to women athletes securing only 4.2% of the overall NIL share, significantly overshadowed by their male counterparts who received 95.8%.

Interestingly, the overall landscape of NIL deals, according to SponsorUnited’s 2023-2024 NIL Marketing Partnerships Report, appears more balanced at a national level. Women secured 52% of NIL deals while men locked in 48%. However, within the specific context of Texas A&M, the disparity is stark, provoking questions about the institution’s support for women’s athletics.

Spotlight on Women’s Achievements

The ongoing debate around NIL equity is especially pertinent given the successes of Texas A&M’s women’s programs. Take the softball team, for example, which achieved the distinction of being ranked No. 1 in the country and split the SEC championship with Oklahoma during the 2024-25 season. Despite such accomplishments, financial recognition through NIL remains disproportionately allocated.

This issue is not isolated to Texas A&M. Across other prominent institutions, women athletes are consistently earning a fraction of their male peers. In the prior academic year, female athletes at the University of Texas earned approximately 8% of the school’s total NIL compensation, totaling $994,398. This trend raises important questions about the systemic inequities embedded in collegiate athletic compensation.

Hillary Clinton’s Advocacy for Equality

As the conversation surrounding NIL inequity gains traction, notable figures like former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton have begun to weigh in. The Federal Department of Education has also attempted to mitigate the disparity by issuing new guidance that emphasizes the need for NIL revenue sharing to align with Title IX regulations, which mandate gender equality in sports. The guidance suggests that NIL earnings should maintain the same standards as athletic scholarships when it comes to gender equity.

However, progress on this front has been stalled since the transition of the U.S. presidency, which saw immediate changes to existing policies. Clinton’s recent comments highlight the urgency of the matter, especially during a time when the WNBA is in negotiations regarding their Collective Bargaining Agreement. The league’s players have taken a bold stance, making headlines with their warm-up shirts that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” This statement was showcased during the WNBA All-Star Game on July 19, emphasizing their demand for fair compensation, including a push for an increase in NIL revenue shares.

On July 21, Clinton voiced her support for the players, sharing a photo of one athlete sporting the impactful message. She emphasized, "Everyone watches women’s sports—and the players should be paid what they’re owed."

The Future of NIL in Women’s Sports

As the NIL landscape continues to unfold, the disparity between earnings in men’s and women’s sports remains a pressing issue. With influential voices advocating for change and ongoing negotiations in leagues like the WNBA, the stakes are higher than ever. The question persists: how long will it take for the NIL game to genuinely shift in favor of women athletes? As the call for equity grows louder, it is clear that a transformation is on the horizon, but whether systemic change will follow remains to be seen.