Wisconsin Badgers Refuse Request to Disclose Football Players' NIL Earnings

The University of Wisconsin denied a request by Sportico to view its current athletes' NIL deals, stating that sharing the information would harm the school and the state. 

The university said doing so would "jeopardize the competitive position of the university" and is "detrimental to the public interest." 

The digital content company sought records on all "written agreements" between athletes and university since the start of 2024. 

"In the ultra-competitive landscape of Division-I intercollegiate athletics, your request would force disclosure of information that allows the university to be competitive in the Big Ten Conference and at the national level," an emailed statement from the university's public records custodian reportedly said according to the company. 

"The public has an interest in a strong and self-sustaining university system. The success of teams within the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics ensures the viability of all athletic programs, supports both the reputation and financial standing of the university as a whole, and is an economic driver for the city of Madison and state of Wisconsin," the university added. 

Wisconsin also partially cited student privacy laws, saying that "the information sought is relevant to current and future negotiations with student athletes and recruits."