March 2026: NIL in the State of Tennessee

About this episode

This episode discusses the evolving landscape of college sports law in Tennessee, focusing on NIL deals and NCAA eligibility challenges.

On this month's episode of BarBuzz, Communications Coordinator Azya Thornton sits down with Knoxville attorney E. Michael Brezina III to break down the rapidly evolving world of college sports law. From name, image and likeness deals to high-profile eligibility litigation involving University of Tennessee athletes, this episode explores how Tennessee has become a focal point in the national conversation. Brezina discusses his NIL representation of athletes, the legal implications of recent challenges to NCAA eligibility rules, and how antitrust arguments are reshaping debates over athlete compensation. The conversation also dives into Tennessee's NIL landscape, institutional involvement, emerging revenue-sharing models, and broader sports law trends, offering practical insight for litigators, business lawyers and any attorney interested in the future of college athletics.

People in this episode

Host: Azya Thornton

Guest: E. Michael Brezina III

Topics covered

• college sports law
• name image likeness
• NCAA eligibility
• athlete compensation
• antitrust arguments

Keywords

• Tennessee
• University of Tennessee
• litigation
• revenue-sharing models
• sports law trends

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Tennessee, Knoxville

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