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The growth and barriers of NIL in High School sports
Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Shahji Adam , KXXV (ABC 25) News
· July 24, 2026
· 2 min read
"Not a big fan of it. Not a big fan," Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda said. Name, Image and Likeness or NIL, is changing the landscape of college sports. Athletes get paid off their name, image and likeness has now trickled down into High School sports. Watch the full story here: The growt...
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Summary created by The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Shahji Adam, KXXV (ABC 25) News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Not a big fan," Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda said.
Why this matters in The Waco
The introduction of Name, Image and Likeness contracts in Texas high schools raises concerns about the impact on student athletes in McLennan County. As the UIL navigates the obstacles of NIL, local schools will need to consider how to support athletes who are at least 17 years old and eligible to sign contracts. The potential for agents to take advantage of young athletes is a particular worry, with some contracts demanding up to 40 percent of earnings. The push for an NIL agent registry in Texas could help protect local students from predatory practices. In Waco, where high school sports are a significant part of the community, it will be crucial to balance the benefits of NIL opportunities with the need to prioritize athletes' educational and personal well-being. As the THSCA conference discussions highlight, finding this balance will be key to ensuring that NIL contracts serve the best interests of student athletes in McLennan County.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 2 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? "Not a big fan of it. Not a big fan," Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda said. Name, Image and Likeness or NIL, is changing the landscape of college sports. Athletes get paid off their name, image and likeness has now trickled down into High School sports. Watch the full story here: The growt...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Shahji Adam at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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