South Carolina Lawmakers Move to Keep College Athlete Payments Secret

State joins others in shielding NIL deals from public records laws amid NCAA inaction

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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South Carolina is poised to join at least four other states in keeping secret the amount of money given to athletic teams and players after the state Senate initially approved a bill. Supporters say the secrecy is needed to prevent other schools from luring away top talent with higher offers, but critics argue it prevents transparency and accountability for how public money is distributed.

Why it matters

The move highlights the growing tension between states' desires to protect their college sports programs and the push for more transparency around the new era of name, image and likeness (NIL) payments to athletes. With the NCAA failing to implement nationwide rules, state legislatures are stepping in, raising concerns about the fairness and integrity of the college sports landscape.

The details

The South Carolina bill, which has already passed the state House, would allow universities to keep the details of NIL deals with athletes secret, citing privacy concerns. Supporters argue this is necessary to prevent other schools from poaching top talent by offering higher payments. Critics counter that the secrecy prevents the public from verifying how public money is being distributed among different sports and athletes.

  • The South Carolina Senate initially approved the bill on Tuesday.
  • The state House approved the proposal last month with just two 'no' votes.
  • Senators have called a hearing next week to get more information from athletic directors before a final vote that could send the bill to the governor.

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 that the bill will put schools at a competitive disadvantage, but supports it to avoid a "disaster" for his state's teams.

Frank Heindel

An open government advocate who sued the University of South Carolina after the school refused to release payment details to athletes under a public records request.

Tom Young

The Republican state senator who shepherded the bill through the chamber, warning colleagues 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 contain "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 (wbal.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 (wbal.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 (wbal.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 (wbal.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 (wbal.com)

What’s next

A judge has put the lawsuit filed by open government advocate Frank Heindel on pause to see if the South Carolina General Assembly passes a law this session. The final vote on the bill could send it to the governor for signature.

The takeaway

The debate in South Carolina highlights the broader tensions over transparency and fairness in college sports as the NCAA struggles to adapt to the new era of name, image and likeness payments. Without federal guidelines, states are taking matters into their own hands, raising concerns about the integrity of the system and the ability of the public to hold universities accountable.