Patrick K.A. Afriyie

On Friday, April 3, 2026, the President signed an executive order on collegiate athletics in an effort to restore a regulatory posture that resembles, in essence, a pre–name, image, and likeness (NIL) power structure. Despite the clear enforceability and legal questions presented by this order, the NCAA has already indicated its intention to implement rules aligned with the order’s demands. The framework sets forth guidelines that favor institutional stability over athlete freedom. In reality, however, these guidelines reflect substantial deference to the NCAA and its historical compliance architecture, signaling a policy preference for centralized governance over athlete-driven market dynamics. In practical terms, the order narrows the scope of student-athlete discretion by circumscribing pathways that have recently expanded under NIL and a more open market, prioritizing uniformity and institutional control. It is too early to determine the exact ramifications of this executive order; however, its existence further emphasizes that change in the collegiate sports industry is coming....

In the ever-changing world of Name Image and Likeness (“NIL”) payments to collegiate athletes, the inevitable question has gotten the attention of the entire college sports ecosystem – how much constant pressure can the NCAA’s current structure withstand in an environment their system once dominated? Legal issues involving college athletes and the NCAA have taken center stage in courts around the country. Conferences and universities have spoken about the financial, institutional, and athletic pressures they now face. Lobbying efforts have reached the ears of Congress and State Legislatures, as mounting pressure for congressional regulation of the industry rises. And now recently, even the President of the United States has weighed in on what he wants the future of the NCAA to look like. Regardless of any one opinion on how college sports should look moving forward, the only certainty that remains is that major change is guaranteed. The real question is from where?...

The Pennsylvania Legal Intelligencer has named Associate Patrick K.A. Afriyie a finalist in the Most Promising Newcomer category of the 2026 Pennsylvania Legal Awards. This accolade honors attorneys in their early years of practice who have demonstrated exceptional potential, work ethic, and legal acumen....