South Carolina Lawmakers Move to Keep College Athlete Payments Secret

State poised to join others in shielding details of NIL deals from public view

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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South Carolina lawmakers are poised to pass a bill that would keep the details of payments to college athletes under the NCAA's name, image and likeness (NIL) rules secret from the public. The bill has already passed the state's House and Senate, with supporters arguing it is necessary to prevent other schools from luring away top talent by offering higher NIL deals. Critics say the secrecy will prevent athletes from knowing their true market value and make it harder to ensure fair distribution of funds.

Why it matters

The move by South Carolina to keep NIL payments secret follows similar actions by several other states, raising concerns about transparency and the ability to verify how public money is being distributed among college sports programs. The debate highlights the broader challenges facing the NCAA as it navigates the new NIL landscape, with state legislatures increasingly stepping in to shape the rules.

The details

The South Carolina bill would allow the state's colleges and universities to keep the specific details of NIL deals with athletes confidential, citing privacy concerns. Supporters argue this is necessary to prevent other schools from luring away top talent by offering higher NIL payments. Critics counter that the secrecy will prevent athletes from knowing their true market value and make it harder to ensure fair distribution of funds, especially when it comes to how much is spent on different sports programs.

  • The South Carolina Senate initially approved the bill on Tuesday.
  • The South Carolina House approved the proposal last month with just two 'no' votes.
  • The General Assembly's 2026 session is scheduled to end in May.

The players

Chip Campsen

A Republican state senator who played football and track at The Citadel, and who said the changes in college sports have been a "horrible radical change."

Russell Ott

A Democratic state senator who said he doesn't like the bill but acknowledged it is necessary to prevent South Carolina schools from being at a "competitive disadvantage."

Frank Heindel

An open government advocate who sued the University of South Carolina after the school refused to release payment details under a Freedom of Information Act request.

Tom Young

The Republican state senator who shepherded the bill through the chamber, warning that the "quickest way to anger people is to mess with their recreation."

Graham Neff

The athletics director at Clemson University, who wrote that the NIL agreements include "highly sensitive personal and financial information" that should not be publicly disclosed.

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What they’re saying

“I think we have taken a wrecking ball to college sports. I played two sports, and I think it's been a horrible radical change.”

— Chip Campsen, Republican State Senator (abcnews4.com)

“We are going to be putting our schools and our athletic programs at a competitive disadvantage. I get it. I don't have to like it.”

— Russell Ott, Democratic State Senator (abcnews4.com)

“Under this bill, the public would not know whether football receives $18 million while women's sports receive $500,000, or whether one position group is paid dramatically more than another. We are asked to simply trust that public money is being distributed fairly, without any ability to verify it.”

— Frank Heindel, Open Government Advocate (abcnews4.com)

“Subjecting these agreements to public disclosure would raise serious privacy concerns for our student-athletes, potentially exposing them to undue public scrutiny and creating risks well beyond the playing field.”

— Graham Neff, Clemson Athletics Director (abcnews4.com)

“As an Auburn graduate, I'm thrilled to get you information and pick through and get your best athletes. But as someone who understands what's good for the game, I tend to support this bill.”

— Michael Johnson, Republican State Senator (abcnews4.com)

What’s next

Senators have called a hearing next week to ask for more information from athletic directors about whether state money goes into athletic programs before a final vote that could send the bill on to the governor.

The takeaway

The debate in South Carolina highlights the broader challenges facing the NCAA as it navigates the new NIL landscape, with state legislatures increasingly stepping in to shape the rules. The push for secrecy around NIL deals raises concerns about transparency and the ability to ensure fair distribution of funds, even as supporters argue it is necessary to protect schools' competitive positions.