Podcasts February 18, 2026

‘Desk Drawer Roundup’: NIL Contract Fights, Eligibility Battles, and the CSC Participation Agreement

Highway to NIL

Speakers

Callan G. Stein Michael S. Lowe Philip D. Nickerson George P. Pla Derek L. Centola

In this episode of Highway to NIL, Troutman Pepper Locke attorney Cal Stein is joined by colleagues Mike Lowe, Philip Nickerson, George Pla, and Derek Centola for a “desk drawer” tour through some of the most consequential recent developments in NIL and college sports. The group unpacks a wave of NIL contract disputes involving high-value athletes, the escalating legal fights over eligibility and the five-year rule, and the emerging governance battles around the College Sports Commission’s (CSC) participation agreement.

Key Topics Include:

  • The CSC participation agreement and governance battles (24:08).
  • The rise of school-athlete NIL/revenue-sharing contracts post-House settlement (4:01)
  • Contract disputes and tampering allegations (5:38)
  • Why injunctive relief over NIL rights may be more important than chasing damages (9:20)
  • The Diego Pavia JUCO litigation, the expanding plaintiff group, and how the five-year rule is being challenged under antitrust theories (12:18)
  • Trinidad Chambliss, Puff Johnson, and contract-law challenges to eligibility limits (18:21)
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