The sudden exit of Madden Iamaleava from Arkansas has revived the call for NIL buyout clauses to be a more permanent fixture in college football.
Arkansas Enforces NIL Buyout Following Madden Iamaleava’s Transfer: Implications for College Football’s Evolving Landscape
The day after quarterback Iamaleava’s sudden departure from the University of Arkansas Razorbacks after joining the team just four months before, the school’s athletic director made news of his own. On Tuesday (April 22), Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yuracheck stated X, formerly Twitter, which many see as a signal that the school intends to enforce its NIL buyout clause.
“I have spoken with the leadership team at Arkansas Edge and expressed my support in their pursuit to enforce their rights under any agreement violated by our student-athletes moving forward,” wrote Yuracheck. “We appreciate Edge’s investment in our student-athletes and acknowledge the enforcement of these agreements is vital in our new world of college athletics. We look forward to continued dialogue with all parties in resolving these matters.”
As NIL deals have become more commonplace, buyout clauses have become part of the landscape.
While the NCAA has emphasized that student-athletes are not employees, the buyout clauses do consist of language that would deter athletes from entertaining competing offers from other schools, as well as penalties like reclaiming money from an athlete that could be enforced if said athlete left before fulfilling their contract or failing to notify their school of receiving contact from other schools with interest before entering the transfer portal.
According to an ESPN report last month, the Southeastern Conference, where Arkansas plays, has set templates regarding buyout clauses in its player NIL contracts. Some schools have also adopted revenue-share contract principles.
KEEP READING: Quarterback Transfer Portal Is Far from Over: What’s Next After Nico and Madden Iamaleava, Joey Aguilar, and Others?
In Iamaleava’s case, it is reported that he signed a one-year contract with Arkansas EDGE, the school’s NIL collective. He joins his older brother, Nico, at UCLA. Nico Iamaleava committed to the Bruins after a tumultuous entry into the transfer portal following a public split with the University of Tennessee. He was set to make over $4 million with the Volunteers but is expected to earn much less with UCLA.
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