Oklahoma State is not allowed to wear QR codes on its helmet during the 2024 college football season after all. The NCAA shut them down in an effort to prove any conceivable need for its existence.
However, the governing body of collegiate athletics only furthered the narrative of incompetence.
Name, Image and Likeness drives success in the modern era of college football. Programs with more money to pay their players have an easier time recruiting top talent. More talent typically leads to wins.
It was the NCAA that created this monster by allowing NIL to exist without any guardrails. There are no rules. “Amateur” sports adopted a professional model but failed to apply important regulations like a salary cap.
To make matters worse, the NCAA has repeatedly failed to enforce any of the rules it tries to put in place. There is no reason to fear its wrath so college football teams all over the country are doing whatever they want in an effort to get ahead.
Oklahoma State tried to take things to the next level with an innovative approach to NIL fundraising. The Cowboys planned to wear QR codes on their helmets during games. The QR code leads directly to a donation page for the school’s official NIL collective.
They are no longer allowed to do so!
Oklahoma State provided an update on the QR codes prior to its season-opener against South Dakota State. The NCAA told them it will not be allowed.
The NCAA is blocking Oklahoma State from adding a sticker to football helmets with a QR code linking fans to the general team fund for every student athlete on the roster.
Oklahoma State interprets the QR code stickers as institutional decals permitted under NCAA bylaws. The NCAA interprets the QR code stickers as advertising and/or commercial marks, which are not permitted.
— Oklahoma State University
Stickers is where the NCAA draws the line after being the ones to open the flood gates in the first place. Stickers!!
We disagree with the interpretation of the rule but will abide by it and work with the appropriate groups to lead on the the needed change. Our people came up with an innovative concept to raise the NIL value of our student-athletes, but ultimately, it just serves as the latest example of how college sports are evolving at a faster pace than the rule book.
— OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg
Chad Weiberg put it nicely. This serves as the latest example of the NCAA’s incompetence.
There are much crazier things going on in the NIL space that border on illegal and much bigger fish to fry. Putting stickers on a helmet to get athletes more money is not a big deal…
If anything, it’s a good thing!