Should Title IX evolve in the NIL era?

NIL has transformed college sports, but Title IX hasn’t evolved alongside it. In my latest op-ed for NOLA.com, I argue it’s time to modernize Title IX so we can expand opportunities for men’s programs like soccer and wrestling while continuing to strengthen women’s athletics.

Let me say this clearly and up front: I’m all in on women’s sports. I’m a proud girl dad. I believe women deserve every single opportunity and scholarship that men get in college athletics. Just look at LSU women’s basketball, right here in my home state, and how it’s transformed the school’s athletic brand. Or the rise of elite women’s soccer across the country. We should be investing in that momentum, not slowing it down.

But while we’ve reimagined nearly every aspect of college sports, Title IX remains largely untouched. It’s been a critical vehicle for progress — no doubt about that. But it has also shut down opportunities for men in ways that don’t always make sense anymore, especially now that money is flowing into college sports like never before.

The entire landscape has shifted over the past few years with the arrival of NIL and the paying of college "amateur" athletes. What used to be one of the great taboos in college sports — punishable by suspensions and resulting in scandal — is now wide-open. Instead of carefully regulated compensation, it’s become a free-for-all. And in some ways, there are even fewer restrictions than in professional leagues, because these players aren’t under contract. The transfer portal has only added to the chaos, giving athletes the freedom to chase winning programs, preferred coaches or better systems.

Men’s soccer is Exhibit A. Did you know that not a single SEC school has a varsity men’s soccer team? Think about that. Florida, Alabama, Georgia — massive athletic brands with passionate fanbases — don’t field men’s teams. Many of their club teams could probably compete with varsity squads elsewhere. Do you think Vermont wins the national title in 2024 if the SEC is in the mix?

With the North American World Cup around the corner and growing concern over the U.S. Men’s National Team, it’s worth asking: Wouldn’t more scholarships, more programs and more investment help raise the level of play? It might not be the silver bullet, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.