The Sugar Bowl shows why NIL reform was a big win for athletes

Published January 3, 2022 12:00am ET



The injury to Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral sparked plenty of takes about college football players opting out of bowl games. But it is also a reminder of how important the debate about name, image, and likeness rights was for college athletes.

Corral was injured in the Sugar Bowl, being carted into the locker room and returning to the Ole Miss sideline on crutches. Despite being a likely first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Corral had decided not to opt-out of the game, which several other prominent players elected to do. While some sports personalities shamed players for opting out, Corral’s injury was a reminder of the risk those players are taking when they are just a few months away from the life-changing, generational wealth that comes with being drafted by the NFL.

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