By Ava Ahrens  

This September, Josh Lens, JD, associate professor of instruction in the Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, brought his expertise to the forefront of a national conversation on college athletics. At the National Association for College and University Attorneys (NACUA) Symposium, Lens presented his latest publication, Enforcing and Arbitrating Name, Image, and Likeness Compensation Limits, analyzing the evolving enforcement model for name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements. A topic that continues to redefine the boundaries of amateurism in college sports.

“The symposium was outstanding and I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in it,” Lens said. “The symposium’s organization was exceptional and it was well-attended.” 

Lens’s article focuses on the new NIL enforcement system introduced as part of the House v. NCAA settlement. Under the new model, NIL deals exceeding $600 must be submitted to a third-party clearinghouse for approval. If deemed excessive, student-athletes must renegotiate, cancel, or appeal the decision through arbitration, a process that introduces both efficiency and complexity into the collegiate sports landscape.

One of the most overlooked aspects of the new system, Lens noted, is the advisory opinion process. “Student athletes can submit proposed NIL arrangements through NIL Go for an advisory opinion,” he said. “That step could save them and their universities a lot of headaches.”

Presenting at NACUA also challenged Lens to consider the enforcement process from a practitioner’s perspective. “Participating in the symposium forced me to consider the new enforcement process through an on-campus practitioner lens, which can be different from a more academic and scholarly angle,” he said. 

Lens teaches several courses at Iowa that intersect with these issues, including “NIL in College Athletics” and “NCAA Rules Compliance and Enforcement.” His classes blend legal scholarship and real-world application, preparing students to navigate a rapidly changing industry. “I’ve always tried to ensure my scholarship and presentations can resonate with both academics and practitioners,” he said.

Still, the road ahead is uncertain. Lens anticipates future litigation, especially when the College Sports Commission declines to approve NIL agreements. “NIL collectives, for example, were not parties to the House settlement and may not wish to be bound by its outcomes,” he explained.

Lens’s background in athletics compliance at Baylor University informs his perspective. “I’ve gained appreciation for the enforcement staff and Committee on Infractions and the important, yet difficult, roles they’ve played,” he said. “Both have at times served as convenient punching bags for the public and college athletics constituents, some of that ire may now focus on the Commission.”

As college athletics continues to evolve, Lens’s work offers a critical lens on legal and institutional challenges ahead. His research, teaching, and public scholarship are helping to shape how universities, athletes, and legal professionals navigate this new era.