Jeremy Evans, CEO and Managing Attorney of California Sports Lawyer®, recently interviewed renowned sports agent Leigh Steinberg at Penn State Dickinson Law.

Leigh Steinberg is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the sports industry, having represented numerous professional athletes and advised on high-profile contracts, endorsements, and media opportunities throughout his career.

The discussion focused on the evolving business of sports, including athlete representation, branding, media, and the changing landscape of the industry.

Jeremy Evans regularly engages with leading figures across sports, media, and entertainment, providing insight into the legal and business dynamics shaping these industries.

Watch the full interview.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

California Sports Lawyer®, led by Jeremy Evans, CEO and Managing Attorney, has been recognized by Chambers and Partners in the Chambers Spotlight California guide for Sports Law.

Chambers and Partners is widely regarded as one of the leading legal ranking organizations globally, with rankings based on independent research, client feedback, and peer evaluation. The Spotlight guide highlights select boutique and mid-sized firms demonstrating strong regional reputations and consistent client impact.

Jeremy Evans, CEO and Managing Attorney of California Sports Lawyer®, is an award-winning attorney and industry leader who advises companies, creators, and talent across the sports, media, and entertainment industries on transactional matters, intellectual property, and dealmaking strategy.

This recognition reflects the CSL's work representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurs, agencies, production companies, and talent, with a focus on practical, business-oriented legal solutions.

View the Chambers profile.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans explores the evolving name, image, and likeness (NIL) landscape in college athletics and the growing need for structure and consistency.

Often described as a "wild west", the current NIL system and transfer portal raises questions around governance, competitive balance, and long-term sustainability. This episode examines what a more unified framework could look like, including clearer rules, stronger oversight, and the potential role of a centralized commissioner within a new governing entity.

As college sports continue to professionalize, the conversation focuses on why new leadership and a new structure may be necessary to bring stability, accountability, and credibility to the future of NIL.

(Season 8, Episode 14).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines the growing governance gap in college athletics and why NIL demands a new commissioner model.

College sports now require a new commissioner model.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

Name, image, and likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal have accelerated the professionalization of college sports, particularly in men’s basketball and football. While elements of college athletics have long had commercial aspects through television and apparel deals, those revenues were traditionally distributed toward operational costs, educational programs, and scholarships. NIL and the transfer portal have fundamentally shifted that model.

The difficulty is that NIL and the transfer portal have created a fully commercial marketplace without a central regulator and/or even a common set of rules, exposing a governance gap in college athletics. State-by-state laws, conference policies, and school-level decisions are driving inconsistency, competitive imbalance, and an NIL arms race. The President’s Executive Order provides a clear a pathway to what needs to occur to balance the field and make sure parity is a top priority in college sports.

However, the NCAA remains education-focused and is not built for contract oversight, financial valuation, or commercial enforcement. From a legislative perspective, NIL was never intended to be administered by educational institutions or even a centralized private entity. It was designed as a market-based opportunity, primarily through social media, for athletes to monetize their personal brands, not the pay-for-play system it has become.

The College Sports Commission (CSC) is also ill-equipped with sufficient decision-making authority, rules, or enforcement power to level the playing field among colleges. There have also been numerous reports that the CSC has been unable to keep up with the volume of deals it must review, creating opportunity for impropriety and a widening of the governance gap. This volume challenge underscores a deeper issue: the system is too large and too fast-moving for a decentralized review body.

U.S. Congress is unlikely to solve the disparity in rules and enforcement because federal intervention faces political hurdles and constitutional limits, including anti-commandeering principles highlighted in the Supreme Court’s Murphy v. NCAA decision. As a result, no single entity currently has the authority, expertise, or jurisdiction to regulate NIL or the transfer portal consistently across top programs. The CSC reflects movement toward coordination, but it lacks independence, uniform authority, and true enforcement power.

College sports now require a new commissioner model. A private, Power Conference-driven commissioner would oversee NIL rules, enforcement standards, and commercial governance outside the NCAA. This concept has also surfaced in a recent interview conducted by the author with super-agent Leigh Steinberg, reflecting growing recognition that the current system lacks centralized leadership. This role could initially complement the CSC, separating rulemaking from enforcement, or ultimately replace it with a centralized system. The model would depend on voluntary, but binding participation by major conferences and schools, likely tied to shared revenue streams and access to top-tier competition.

There are significant risks in any model, but there is arguably more risk in maintaining the status quo. Coordinated rulemaking among conferences raises antitrust concerns, particularly around restricting compensation and limiting market competition. At the same time, the absence of coordination fuels instability and competitive imbalance. This tension may ultimately require a limited Congressional antitrust safe harbor, but in the near term it underscores the need for collective agreement among participating institutions.

There is also concern that increased centralized control could strengthen arguments that athletes are employees under existing legal tests, particularly where compensation structures and enforcement mechanisms become more formalized. Title IX (prevents sex-based discrimination) presents an additional layer of complexity. Any structured compensation or revenue-sharing framework must still comply with federal obligations at the institutional level, even if broader NIL governance becomes more centralized. The reality is that the Power conferences are already operating with increasing autonomy, signaling a shift toward a quasi-professional league structure. The question is not whether college sports will continue to evolve commercially, but whether governance will evolve fast enough to manage it effectively.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines executive power and the future of college sports in light of a recent executive order.

The executive order reflects both the urgency of the moment and the absence of a legislative solution.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

The fight to save college sports is a battle between what was and what it has become. This battle is not between defined titles like coaches versus the student-athletes. The battle is for the future of college sports. In other words, the rules of the game are at stake.

The transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) payments have changed college sports forever. The transfer portal and NIL were driven out of frustration with student-athletes not getting paid despite seeing merchandise sales, television contracts, and apparel deals for universities, conferences, and the NCAA in the millions of dollars. Social media platforms helped to expedite not only the message for change, but literally provided the distribution channel to allow athletes to promote their message and themselves for financial gain.

The problem created by the transfer portal and NIL is that athletes are staying longer in school for the money (not the education) and often transferring between institutions for more money and playing time. Student-athletes are also not being paid for their performance, promoting a product, or some other fair market value valuation, but simply because they play at a certain university and have talent, which is the definition of pay-to-play. Pay-to-play is precisely the model that the sports-education system was meant to avoid, but the transfer portal and NIL have created regardless.

Having older athletes in their mid-20s playing against 18–20 year olds is not only unfair, it is unsafe. Having 50% transfer rates is not only unsustainable, it is unwise, and unfair. Change is needed. The players, coaches, and athletic department leadership agree—the people involved are only trying to succeed to the best of their ability in a system that has been created and will continue to do so until it is changed.

The White House through President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order (“EO”) for college sports framed as “Urgent National Action to Save College Sports”. The EO directs federal agencies to reshape college athletics through several specific measures: (1) limits athlete eligibility to five years to complete four seasons; (2) a one-time transfer rule; (3) pushes NIL compensation toward “fair market value,” discouraging pay-for-play arrangements; (4) calls for national NIL standards to replace the current patchwork of state laws; and (5) signals potential use of federal funding and agency enforcement to drive compliance.

The executive order reflects both the urgency of the moment and the absence of a legislative solution.

In March 2026, many of the top leaders in college sports met at the White House to discuss these same issues, many of which are reflected in the EO. The question is whether the EO will last past the current presidency (e.g., it is common for future U.S. presidents to issue new EO’s overturning previous ones), whether Congress legislates the EO, or whether states, conferences, or the NCAA make changes. Executive orders allow the President to direct federal agencies, set policy priorities, and take immediate administrative action within existing law, but they do not create new law or override Congress or the courts.

The concern is that Congress has been unwilling to pass federal legislation on what has traditionally been viewed as a state issue or private contractual matter, leaving a regulatory vacuum. The NCAA has shown itself to act with weakened authority with its series of losses in court, while the courts and NCAA rules continue to allow more compensation and eligibility. Compensation and eligibility are one thing, but money without rules and guidelines for teams to compete fairly are a problem and it lacks parity in application.

Imagine professional sports without limitations on draft picks, seemingly unlimited money being spent (absent a salary cap or luxury tax), or contracts to keep players on a team. The benefit of the bargain in sports contracts is that the player gets paid to play and perform, the team and fans receive that benefit, but the contracted athlete does not get to leave every year. That is what college sports have become. It is not great for the players and definitely not good for the universities and fans.

From a legal standpoint, the challenge becomes more complex.

Legally speaking, antitrust law in the courts has favored athlete compensation and mobility. However, rule changes to college sports must define what fair market value is, how that money is earned beyond just playing to avoid the employment law issues, when a student-athlete can transfer (as a foundation it should not be more than a non-student-athlete to be fair), and how to keep fairness and parity among the conferences and universities. The risk in not resolving these issues is a widening gap in competition and a product that becomes increasingly indistinguishable from professional sports.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans explores the evolving relationship between media and the subjects it covers, and how that dynamic is reshaping storytelling across sports and entertainment.

The discussion examines the shift from traditional independent reporting to a more collaborative model, where leagues, athletes, and content creators increasingly work together to produce and distribute content. With the rise of social media and direct-to-audience platforms, the line between storyteller and subject continues to blur, giving individuals and organizations unprecedented control over their own narratives.

From content partnerships and athlete-driven platforms to questions around authenticity, bias, and journalistic responsibility, this episode considers both the opportunities and the challenges of this transformation.

As media continues to evolve alongside technology and audience expectations, the conversation highlights what this means for the future of sports media, the role of journalism, and the balance between storytelling and truth.

(Season 8, Episode 13).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026.  California Sports Lawyer®.  All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines how the line between sports media and the subjects it covers is increasingly collaborative.

Social media platforms have further accelerated this shift, allowing the story and storyteller to become one—and giving nearly everyone a personal broadcast channel.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

The current sports media ecosystem is competitive and constantly changing. Content providers (writers, producers, and executives) must find new ways to deliver their library of assets and intellectual property, increasingly through partnerships with leagues, talent, and rights holders.

Media has traditionally been expected to operate independently—pursuing stories based on leads or instinct and reporting the facts. Interpretation and follow up are left to the viewer. Partnerships between the storyteller and the subject, however, can make content feel more authentic, as it comes directly from the source. Social media platforms have further accelerated this shift, allowing the story and storyteller to become one—and giving nearly everyone a personal broadcast channel.

However, journalists should remain mindful of their professional obligation to pursue the truth beyond the goals of marketing or storytelling. There was also a time when newspapers and media outlets openly labeled themselves with political affiliations, signaling their perspective to readers. That approach, in some ways, appears more transparent than claiming independence while operating within increasingly aligned biases.

Shaping a narrative should not be the role of a journalist; uncovering the truth should be. Yet throughout history, including the last fifty years, those telling the story have often sought a particular outcome rather than an honest reaction. There is a time and place for both marketing and journalism, but today’s environment reflects how audiences consume content—directly, immediately, and often through social media.

The Players’ Tribune, for example, tells stories from the athlete’s perspective, often in collaboration with a writer. The Front Office Sports content partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) similarly reflects the continued evolution of marketing, storytelling, and sports journalism. It is a form of partnership consistent with other modern media content arrangements.

Many fans will welcome these types of partnerships, as much of what audiences see and hear across traditional news platforms is framed negatively in both delivery and reception. Sports media has long provided a reprieve, and these partnerships can offer an additional layer of connection when stories are told directly from or with the perspective of the athlete, actor, or business involved.

The transformation of sports media through content partnerships is, in many ways, a natural change driven by accessibility and audience demand. Good journalism still requires asking difficult questions, but media organizations can also learn from this transformation and from their audiences. Viewers want information delivered clearly and directly—without assumptions about what they want to hear. Journalism without bias includes asking questions without bias. As social media continues to dominate how people consume news and entertainment, and as podcasts and self-publishing grow, storytelling has become more democratized than ever before.

The barriers to telling a story have fallen, but personal responsibility must remain the high standard—regardless of who tells the story or where it appears.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines the growing conflict between federal commodities regulation and state sports betting laws as prediction markets reshape the governance of sports wagering.

The negotiation is no longer limited to intellectual property rights or the commercialization of data, but extends to control and governance of the underlying market itself.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

The battle over who controls sports-based prediction markets—federal regulators or state gaming authorities—is accelerating, with courts beginning to weigh in on whether these products are lawful futures contracts or simply sports betting in disguise.

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) $300 million deal for three years with prediction market exchange company, Polymarket follows a host of similar agreements with professional sports leagues in the United States. As part of the agreement, Polymarket gains exclusive rights to use official MLB branding, logos, and data.

Polymarket is taking a federal approach to sports futures contracts by operating under a commodities framework that may preempt or avoid traditional state sports betting laws and regulations—an approach already drawing resistance from several states. States want their oversight and, most importantly, the tax revenue that comes from sports betting, which sports futures contracts in prediction markets are not currently subject to. There is also a broader policy concern regarding expanded access to sports-related wagering products and the potential impact on gambling addiction.

Per MLB.com, Commissioner Rob Manfred “signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Michael S. Selig, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), one year after MLB wrote a letter to the CFTC calling for strong integrity protections in the rapidly evolving prediction market space. MLB pursued this agreement with the CFTC to further protect the integrity of baseball by ensuring swift response to incidents and anticipating emerging trends more strongly.” MLB recognized early that this market was developing and sought to centralize league-level control—preventing individual franchises from entering inconsistent agreements, while establishing uniform rules and guidance to protect players and the integrity of the game.

The CFTC, MLB, and other professional sports leagues have effectively created a parallel system to traditional sports betting—one governed by federal commodities law rather than state gaming regimes, and therefore not subject to the same licensing, taxation, and consumer protection frameworks. The federal framework for sports futures offers scale and uniformity, and may present a path forward in jurisdictions like California, where tribal gaming interests have historically opposed the expansion of commercial sports betting. In this structure, professional sports leagues are not only monetizing data, but increasingly influencing the markets themselves.

Going forward, the central debate will focus on the balance between states’ rights and federal authority. At the core is the legal distinction between sports futures and sports betting—and whether that distinction is substantive or merely semantic. Proponents argue that the CFTC regulates a fundamentally different market centered on commodities and risk transfer. Critics, however, question whether these products functionally replicate wagering on game outcomes. The fact that this framework has not historically been applied to sports does not mean it cannot—or should not—be applied now.

Sports leagues, teams, and players will also be required to navigate multiple roles: participant (even if indirect), benefactor, and self-regulator. The negotiation is no longer limited to intellectual property rights or the commercialization of data, but extends to control and governance of the underlying market itself. Ultimately, the question is not just who owns probability, but who regulates it—and whether the future of sports-related markets will be dictated by federal commodities law, state gaming regimes, or a coexistence of both.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer Podcast, host Jeremy Evans is joined by CEO Philip Hover-Smoot, founder of Atlas Cup, to discuss the emerging concept of sports in space and competition beyond Earth.

They explore the vision behind Atlas Cup, the intersection of sports, technology, and the growing space economy, and what it takes to build a new sports platform in an entirely new environment.

From legal frameworks and governance to commercialization and innovation, this conversation examines how sports may evolve alongside space exploration.

(Season 8, Episode 12).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026.  California Sports Lawyer®.  All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer Podcast, host Jeremy Evans examines the rapidly evolving landscape of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and how they are expanding into high school sports. As NIL continues to reshape college athletics, new questions are emerging about its impact on younger athletes, schools, and governing bodies.

Evans breaks down the legal, business, and policy considerations surrounding NIL at the high school level, including state-by-state differences, athlete eligibility concerns, and the role of schools, sponsors, and families. He also explores the opportunities NIL presents for young athletes, alongside the risks and challenges tied to regulation, recruitment, and competitive balance.

This episode provides insight into what may be the next major frontier in sports law, and what it could mean for the future of amateur athletics in the United States.

(Season 8, Episode 11).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines how the NIL marketplace has expanded into high school athletics as the economics of athlete dealmaking continue moving earlier in the pipeline.

Standardized contracts, guidelines, and regulations will be essential to maintaining fairness in the education-athletic system.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

Sports agents have simply rolled back the proverbial clock in dealmaking with athletes. As name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules have changed for college athletes, their younger athletic counterparts in high school are being recruited and signed earlier. Arguably, some of these business relationships were already occurring, and the legal system has simply caught up to regulate an existing space.

For context, the Supreme Court’s decision in NCAA v. Alston addressed compensation limits for college athletes, not high school players, but its antitrust reasoning has helped fuel broader challenges to restrictions across the amateur sports landscape. California’s Fair Pay to Play Act primarily targeted college athletics, but it also acknowledged that high school students possess name, image, and likeness rights, highlighting how the NIL conversation extends beyond the college level. Therein lies the foundation for legal challenges and change in high school athletics.

The creation of the Overtime Elite league and changes in NBA G-League rules have also driven some high school and college athletes from traditional school teams toward professional or professional-lite opportunities. Social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube have further fueled the expansion of NIL opportunities, as athletes now control their own broadcast channels and platforms to showcase their skills. International sports markets provide another example. In baseball and soccer, prospects in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Mexico are often signed as teenagers and placed in development systems before reaching the minor leagues or major league clubs.

Signing athletes under the age of eighteen has long been a practice among professional clubs around the world. In California, the Coogan Act (or “Coogan’s Law,” named after a childhood movie star) offers an important safeguard. Enacted in 1939, the law requires employers to deposit 15 percent of a child performer’s gross earnings into a blocked trust account, commonly known as a “Coogan Account,” protecting those earnings from misuse by parents or guardians. The law applies to minors in entertainment and sports and now extends to child online influencers.

High school athletic associations are beginning to face challenges to their authority as elite athletes develop large social media audiences and clear commercial value. At the same time, eligibility concerns remain. For example, a high school athlete earning money through NIL may later attend college where disclosure requirements and amateurism rules still apply in some form. Definitions and restrictions surrounding what it means to be paid to participate in sports will need greater clarity. Without guidance, eligibility questions will continue to create uncertainty.

Coogan accounts, parental oversight, and strong legal representation will likely become essential tools in helping young athletes navigate contracts and commercial opportunities. A strong off-field team can be just as important as the team on the field. Education in high school and college should remain the priority, and athletes who choose a fully professional path may instead pursue club systems or professional drafts. At present, the NFL remains the only major U.S. league that effectively requires college participation before entry.

NIL rules for high school athletes will likely develop on a state-by-state basis, much like collegiate NIL rules did initially. As a result, high school athletic associations may face some of the same legal scrutiny the NCAA has encountered under antitrust law. Schools and their governing bodies will need to balance commercial opportunity with educational priorities while operating within evolving state law.

Standardized contracts, guidelines, and regulations will be essential to maintaining fairness in the education-athletic system. High school associations should learn from the NCAA’s experience and avoid similar complications. High school should serve as preparation for college, just as college prepares athletes for professional sports. Each stage should ultimately serve as a training ground not only for athletic success, but for life beyond the game.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.  

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast, host Jeremy Evans breaks down the proposed Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal and what it could mean for the future of sports, media, and streaming. As traditional studios compete with tech platforms for audience attention, live sports rights remain one of the most valuable assets in the entertainment industry.

Jeremy examines why sports are central to major media consolidation, how entertainment libraries and streaming services factor into long-term strategy, and what a potential combination of these companies could mean for leagues, networks, and fans. The episode also explores the business and legal dynamics behind one of the most significant potential media deals in recent years.

(Season 8, Episode 10).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines the proposed Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger and why live sports rights—not entertainment libraries or streaming platforms—may be the most important asset shaping the future of the media industry.

[L]ive sports broadcasting and streaming rights remain the most valuable asset in modern media and consumer consumption.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

The proposed Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery (“PWBD”) merger is a significant milestone in entertainment and sports history. The $111 billion sale price is nearly $40 billion ($39.7 billion) more than the Disney–Fox merger. The PWBD merger is widely being framed as a move to strengthen streaming platforms, theatrical windows of 45 days, and the combining of two iconic film and television studios and entertainment libraries, which is true. However, the underlying economic logic of the PWBD deal points to a different priority: live sports broadcasting and streaming rights remain the most valuable asset in modern media and consumer consumption.

In the current media environment, live sports rights drive advertising, subscriber retention, and platform relevance. It is true that a very popular television series can drive the aforementioned, but a good television series is not as predictable or as relevant as live sports, and even less so for feature films. In other words, series and films are unpredictable in terms of success and the chances are limited. A bad game can happen, and fans will still watch and come back, game after game and season after season.

In terms of sports assets, Paramount contributes CBS, Paramount+, and major sports rights including the NFL and NCAA basketball. Warner Bros. Discovery brings Turner networks, TNT, Bleacher Report, and other established sports programming. The combined PWBD entity will hold significant live sports rights and distribution capacity alongside one of the largest entertainment libraries in the world.

Some may question the power of sports. However, live sports continue to deliver large real-time audiences in an otherwise fragmented media landscape. Advertisers prioritize sports because of predictable viewership and cultural relevance. Sports dominate popular culture and social media engagement. Moreover, media companies increasingly depend on sports rights to justify subscription models and maintain competitive leverage.

The flip side to live sports is entertainment libraries. Entertainment libraries keep fans engaged on the platform after the game is over. In other words, entertainment libraries provide long-term value by strengthening combined film and television catalogs with extensive on-demand content. Combined libraries can also help competition by retaining subscribers and supporting international distribution.

This dynamic makes sense because streaming platforms have become the primary distribution channel for both sports and entertainment content. PWBD is seeking to compete with global powerhouses like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, and Apple. PWBD would round out the group of major media platforms along with NBCUniversal and combine streaming platforms Paramount+, Max, and Pluto TV. A subscriber could stream a boxing or UFC match and then watch Top Gun: Maverick, for example, without ever leaving the platform.

A merger of this scale will likely bring scrutiny from antitrust regulators. However, time and again similar deals have been approved regardless of political party control, largely because the industry has changed and the lines between production and distribution have become less defined. Assuming the deal is approved, further mergers may be on the horizon.

Live sports rights and distribution are increasingly determining the structure of modern media companies. Vast entertainment libraries and live sports on streaming platforms support the core strategy in Hollywood and sports. Meanwhile, mergers will continue to advance that strategy.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

In this week’s column, California Sports Lawyer® CEO and Managing Attorney Jeremy M. Evans examines two pathways forward on college sports moving out of the Wild West and into a sustainable model that is fair and successful.

NCAA’s legal challenge is that they have lost every major case going back to O’Bannon, Alston, and now House.

You can read the full column below. (Past columns can be found, here).

~

The NCAA has long sought control and stability of college sports. Name, image, and likeness (NIL) was a challenge to the financial model for college sports that was initially meant as a market-based solution to college athletes getting paid. That market-based solution has turned into a university and conference controlled financial system that is paid through a share of television dollars (e.g., the House settlement agreement) and funds raised from brands, donors, and alumni.

NCAA’s legal challenge is that they have lost every major case going back to O’Bannon, Alston, and now House. The lower courts and the Supreme Court have been increasingly limiting NCAA’s ability to manage college sports. It is without question that college sports are within the purview of the NCAA’s jurisdiction. However, the NCAA cannot govern if every decision it makes is challenged and lost by a lawsuit. Either NCAA is no longer the governing body or an antitrust exemption is in place to help reign in the Wild West of college sports.

The NCAA is currently and has been seeking an antitrust exemption from Congress. The White House has also organized a sports council with Nick Saban and others to discuss and come up with solutions to the Wild West of college sports. College sports are currently enjoying the benefits of professional sports, but without its protections (no standardized contracts, no limitation on funding, lack of competitiveness, unlimited transfers, and no salary cap or luxury taxes, etc.). If the NCAA is without antitrust protection through an exemption it will be nearly impossible to govern college sports because every decision they make could violate antitrust law and subject them to more lawsuits (likely losing endeavors based on legal precedent).

If the NCAA is provided an antitrust exemption, even a limited one, it could regulation NIL nationally. It could place limits on compensation or revenue sharing across the country. There could also be uniform recruiting and transfer rules. Players and coaches could also be held accountable to contracts and financial gains when leaving for another team.

The concern is that an antitrust exemption would allow schools to place a cap on athlete earnings. There is further concern that an exemption would reverse the effect of past lawsuits challenging the NCAA’s authority. However, the larger concern is that the NCAA cannot govern without some guidance or protection. A business model cannot sustain itself if governed by the courts or Congress. It needs to govern itself through the NCAA.

It should be remembered that the issue with previous lawsuits was getting student-athletes paid. Now that the door has been opened and athletes are getting paid well beyond personal NIL deals, there needs to guidance around payments, contracts, and transfer to impact fairness or at least consistency in the system. An antitrust exemption would change college sports forever, but it may also be the only way to sustain itself.

U.S. District Judge Claudia Ann Wilken from California struggled with this issue in the House case because a settlement only covers a certain period of time and players as they move on in their lives and careers. How can a player not yet playing be subject to a settlement they were not a part of? It is mentally perplexing and legal questionable without some level of an antitrust exemption for the NCAA. Another solution would be the complete privatization of college sports without limitations, but is that something educational institutions, fans, and alumni want to see as a product on the field? Maybe something has to give. Maybe the system will work out the kinks in time.

~

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of the California Sports Lawyer® Podcast with Jeremy Evans, we sit down with Jonathan Aberman, co-founder and chief executive officer of Hupside, a visionary technology platform advancing a new paradigm in how humans create value in an AI-driven world. Hupside is on a mission to measure what machines cannot replicate—Original Intelligence—and to help organizations identify and cultivate the human originality that drives true innovation and sustainable competitive advantage.

Jonathan shares his journey from entrepreneurship, venture investing, and academic leadership to leading a company at the forefront of human-centered artificial intelligence transformation. He explains why most AI adoption efforts fail without understanding the human factor, how originality can be quantified, and why human thinkers will define the future of work and innovation.

We unpack the implications of Original Intelligence for teams, leaders, and learners, and explore how aligning human creativity with technological tools can unlock performance, insight, and strategic growth. Whether you are a founder, executive, lawyer, or innovator navigating the age of AI, this conversation offers a compelling perspective on what it means to lead with originality in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

(Season 8, Episode 9).

Listen in as award-winning attorney and industry leader Jeremy Evans navigates the fine print on the biggest topics and most interesting legal angles in entertainment, media, and sports law. The top entertainment, media, and sports podcast is streaming on all major platforms!

You can listen to the podcast, HERE.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. An award-winning attorney and industry leader, Evans is based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.

About Bleav:

Bleav (pronounced believe) is a sports and entertainment studio and nationwide sports network. From athletes who played for the teams to passionate experts on topics you want to hear, Bleav is the #1 podcast network for professionals and fans. With 500 shows, 800 hosts with a combined 50M followers, 1000 hours of original content per month, and networks covering NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAAF, NCAAB, SEC, NHL, soccer, pop culture and more, Bleav is your destination for creators and fans of sports, teams and topics. Every Team. Every Topic. Everywhere! We Bleav in our teams, topics, and professionals. #DoYouBleav!?

Copyright © 2026. California Sports Lawyer®. All Rights Reserved.