It's-a Me! Mario! Reporting on College Athletes Getting Paid! Wahoo!

Settlement? More Like a Super Settlement!

Mamma Mia! It's a me Mario here to talk about some serious 'shrooms... I mean news! You know how I always jump for coins? Well now college athletes are gettin' a chance to grab some gold too! The House v. NCAA settlement has finally been approved and it's a gonna change everything! It’s like finding a secret warp zone to a whole new game level! Basically it means they're paying up a big pile of coins to those who played between 2016 and 2025 because they couldn't collect on their name image and likeness (NIL). That’s right no more being a treated like Goombas it’s a payday!

Show Me the Money (Blocks)!

So what’s a happenin'? Well first off a big ol' pile of $2.75 billion is going to Division I college athletes who were basically told 'Sorry no coins for you!' from 2016 to 2025. Think of it like this they were jumping for the flag pole but never got any extra points. But now Judge Claudia Wilken is a giving them their deserved points. And moving forward colleges can now spend up to $20.5 million a year to directly pay athletes! That’s like finding a Starman every year!

The End of Amateurism? It's a Over!

For years these college athletes have been playing their hearts out and not seeing a dime directly from their schools. Many were getting paid on the side through NIL collectives (more on that later) but now it’s official: the era of 'amateurism' is a over! It's like finally defeating Bowser and getting the princess... I mean the payout! Of course most of this money is a going to football and basketball those big Koopa Troopas of revenue generation. It's a me playing football? Mama Mia! Now that is a sight to behold. I would kick that ball so high it would hit the moon!

NIL: Not Just One Mushroom Anymore!

So what is this NIL thing anyway? Well for the past four years it's a been like having two types of Super Mushrooms: 'collective NIL' and 'commercial NIL.' Collective NIL is when rich folks and donors throw a ton of money at athletes to convince them to go to their school. It’s like bribing me with pasta to rescue the princess! Remember Bryce Underwood? He turned down LSU because the University of Michigan offered him a ton of cash. Commercial NIL on the other hand is when businesses pay athletes to use their name and likeness in ads and stuff. It’s like me endorsing a new brand of spaghetti sauce!

Introducing 'College NIL'! It's a New!

But wait there's more! With this new settlement there's a third type of NIL: 'college NIL.' This is where the money goes directly to the universities and they pay the athletes. It’s like the university becoming a giant coin block! Apparently some NIL collectives are already shutting down. One company Deloitte even created 'NIL Go' to make sure these deals are fair. It's a like they're the Toad of NIL making sure everything is in order.

Women's Sports: A Power Up!

Now here's where it gets really interesting. While 'college NIL' might hurt women's sports a bit commercial NIL could be a major power up! According to experts women athletes are crushing it on social media which means they can earn even more with endorsements! That’s a right the Princess Peachs of the sports world are about to get their due! Candace Parker basketball superstar says women are finally getting the recognition they deserve because they are awesome. She believes that the WNBA can set the standard for paid maternity leave inspiring change throughout the sports world.