We’re finally getting answers to some lingering questions regarding college athletes being allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL).

The University of Texas is the latest school to create a licensing program that will allow athletes to use school trademarks and logos in NIL deals thanks to a partnership with The Brandr Group, a brand management, marketing and licensing agency in Florida. Athletes can join group licensing programs of three or more individuals from the same team or six or more individuals across sports to co-brand with Texas intellectual property, Burnt Orange Nation reported. Similar programs with the University of North Carolina and Ohio State were established over the past month.

“Now fans can purchase Texas Longhorns items like jerseys and T-shirts to support their favorite players, which we have never been able to do before, and the student-athletes are able to profit from those sales through their agreement with Brandr,” Chris Del Conte, athletics director at Texas, said in a press release.

The best place to build your brand just got even better. #HookEm

— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 20, 2021

As previously reported, the NIL ruling has created plentiful opportunities for the promo industry, as college athletes can now license their name to promote brands, sponsor events and campaigns, and launch their own merchandising companies. Several athletes have already capitalized, unveiling their own clothing lines, trademarked logos and online apparel stores. Earlier this month, the University of Miami’s quarterback, D’Eriq King, signed with the NHL’s Florida Panthers to become the team’s first “FLA Athlete,” marking the first time that a professional sports franchise has partnered with an American student-athlete in an NIL deal.

“This ruling will generally increase the visibility of college sports,” Allen Adamson, co-founder and managing partner at the marketing strategy and activation firm Metaforce, told ASI Media. “More buzz means more merchandise. Social media will play a huge factor, as popular athletes will influence followers into wanting a school’s mug, hat or T-shirt.”

Steve Flaughers, owner of Proforma 3rd Degree Marketing (asi/300094) in Canton, OH, has targeted the college sports market for years. Although he sees the potential in college athletes selling their own branded T-shirts and bobbleheads, he’s concerned about licensing issues that can arise.

“Students don’t seem interested in wanting to learn the licensing aspect of the products,” Flaughers said. “I assume if allowed, they will sell anything and everything that they can. This could pose a serious problem for the universities. Would they fine their own student athletes the same as they would us licensed suppliers? If the university feels they’re losing a great deal of revenue, will this mean licensing fees skyrocket to make up for that loss of money they have made off the student athletes?”