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Governor Andy Beshear signs executive order on NIL rights for Kentucky student-athletes

It’s done, finally.

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UPDATE

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has officially signed an executive order that will require colleges in the state to allow their student-athletes to make money while still in school. This was done because of the NCAA’s new name, image and likeness rules being implemented for the 2021-22 athletics seasons.

“Today’s step was done in cooperation with all of our public universities as well as leadership of both parties,” said Beshear after signing the executive order Thursday at the Capitol. “This action ensures we are not at a competitive disadvantage in recruiting, and also that our student-athletes have the same rights and opportunities as those in other states. For any individual athlete, their name, image and likeness are their own and no one else’s.”

Read more about the news here.


College athletics are about to change drastically on July 1st, and Governor Andy Beshear is making sure Kentucky will be on an equal playing field.

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio broke the news that Governor Beshear is planning on issuing an executive order this afternoon requiring all colleges in the state to allow student-athletes to make money on their name, image, and likeness.

This is huge news for the Kentucky Wildcats and other college athletics programs in the Bluegrass, who will now be able to help their athletes be compensated. That could help Kentucky’s odds of landing Jalen Duren is he reclassifies into 2021 and/or convince Davion Mintz to return for one more season of college hoops.

On July 1st, six states including Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and New Mexico have laws in place that will take effect allowing student-athletes to make money. With the order, Kentucky will now join that group.

This is massive for the state and the correct move since the NCAA is still scrambling to get NIL rule changes in place and it is looking like permanent rules being passed by July 1st is unlikely, according to The Athletic.