The NCAA's Board of Governors voted Tuesday to allow college athletes to receive compensation for their names, images and likenesses.
Why it matters: In the end, California won. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into in September that allows the state's college athletes to accept endorsement deals by 2023, upending the decades-long precedent set by the NCAA to prevent collegiate athletes from being paid.
- The NCAA argued fervently against California's bill, claiming it was "unconstitutional."
- It risked making California players ineligible, perhaps ultimately twisting the NCAA's arm get on board and work to find a middle ground.
- The California law touched off a wave of similar pushes around the country — with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis supporting similar legislation.
What they're saying: Michael V. Drake, the board's chair and president of the Ohio State University, said in a statement, "We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes."
- "This modernization for the future is a natural extension of the numerous steps NCAA members have taken in recent years to improve support for student-athletes, including full cost of attendance and guaranteed scholarships."
Go deeper: NCAA coaches react to California law allowing student-athletes to be paid
