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By Nilay Upadhyayula
Published November 15, 2025
Welcome back to The NIL Mindset.
We break down the biggest moves, trends, and shifts happening in the NIL world so you can stay informed.
Here’s what’s been making headlines:
Latest in NIL Regulation:
The New Transfer Portal Window (Football)
The NCAA has officially shortened the football transfer portal window to one 15-day period (January 2–16) starting in 2026
- The previous spring window has been eliminated, putting all transfers into one condensed period.
- For playoff teams, there’s a 5-day special window following their final post season game.
- The “coach change” exception is now 15 days (was previously 30), beginning five days after a new coach is hired.
International Athletes & NIL Compensation
While NIL laws allow international players to profit from their name, image, and likeness, U.S. visa laws still limit how and where they can earn money.
Most international student-athletes holdF-1 visas, which prohibit most types of employment while in the U.S.
This means:
- Even if NIL deals are allowed by the NCAA, they might not be legal under immigration law.
Brand Management Keys to Victory
Being a Micro-Influencer
You don’t need 100k followers to make real money.
Brands care more about engagement and authenticity than follower count.
Micro-influencers can be helpful to brands because of the following:
- They connect more personally with their audience.
- Their followers trust their recommendations more.
- Their content feels real — not like an ad.
Showing brands your engagement rate and audience breakdown stats proves your influence is targeted and intentional.
Collaborate to Grow
Partner with other athletes, creators, or local brands who share your vibe.
Ways to do it:
- Film a workout with another athlete and tag each other.
- Team up with a local business(like a gym, restaurant, or barber) for a shared post.
- Hop on a podcast or make a short collab video with someone in your field.
Collaboration can help grow exposure. When you help others grow, you grow too.
Financial Times
The U.S. government was shut down since October 1 because Congress couldn’t agree on a new budget.
This means hundreds of thousands of federal workers are unpaid, and major agencies are paused or slowed down.
What was affected:
- Economic data is delayed, reports like jobs, inflation, and spending aren’t being released.
- Businesses are cautious, and brands may hold off on deals until things stabilize.
- Payments and funding slow down, if a company or sponsor relies on federal contracts, they may pause spending.
Finance Term of the Day: Depreciation
Definition:
Depreciation is the loss of value over time for something you own, such as a car, laptop, or camera. It happens as things get older, used, or outdated.
In simple terms:
If you buy a car for $40,000 and in three years it’s only worth $25,000, that's $15,000 in depreciation.
Why it matters:
- It helps businesses (and you) track real asset value.
- For taxes, companies can deduct depreciation to reduce taxable income.
- For individuals, it’s a reminder that not all purchases hold value and that some lose it fast.
Before buying something expensive (like a car or camera), ask yourself:
Is this going to make me money or lose value the second I buy it? (You should look to spend money on assets that appreciate.)
This content does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial, or investment advice. Any opinions expressed above are subject to change at any time without notice; you should conduct your own review and seek professional advice prior to making any investment. We do not make any warranties as to accuracy or completeness of this information, do not endorse any third-party companies, products, or services described here, and take no liability for your use of this information. Investments are not suitable for all investors, are not guaranteed, and involve risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
