South Carolina Lawmakers Move to Keep College Athlete Payments Secret

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South Carolina lawmakers have approved a bill that would keep secret the details of how much money is being paid to college athletic teams and players under new rules allowing them to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL). The state is joining at least four others that have passed similar legislation to shield these financial arrangements from public scrutiny.

Why it matters

The lack of nationwide rules around NIL payments has led to concerns about potential recruiting wars and uneven playing fields as schools and boosters in some states are able to offer more lucrative deals to athletes than others. Critics argue that keeping these deals secret reduces transparency and accountability around how public universities are using funds.

The details

The South Carolina Senate voted to approve a bill this week that would make the details of NIL payments to the state's college athletes and teams confidential. The state's House of Representatives had previously passed the proposal with just two 'no' votes. South Carolina is joining at least four other states - Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi - that have passed similar legislation to shield these financial arrangements from public view.

• The South Carolina Senate approved the NIL secrecy bill on February 18, 2026.
• The South Carolina House of Representatives passed the bill in January 2026.

What’s next

The South Carolina bill now heads to the governor's desk for signature into law.