The world of college athletics and its amateurism model is likely to change in a few months. Last week, the NCAA Board of Governors suggested that the association adopt new rule changes that will allow student-athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

A vote on that subject is scheduled for January 2021 with an implementation date as early as the 2021-22 academic year. It would begin a whole new world in college athletics, crumbling the amateurism model that has been in place for decades.

In an interview with Big Ten Network recently, Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta said that, while he’s open to the change, there also needs to be a balance with the potential rule changes.

“I think everybody agrees that modernization and change along with the times is important, whatever the topic,” Barta said. “Certainly student-athletes — what’s changed so much is the availability of social media and the access students have to opportunities to earn money. From my perspective, there’s a willingness to consider all that and to try to come up with a model that is more modern than what we’ve had in the past.

“On the flip side of that, what I want to keep out are the bad actors. I want to keep the rogue booster he pays someone inappropriately. I want to keep out the agent who is coming after a young person to try to get their business with big things that are in mind that are inappropriate for an amateur college student-athlete. So, finding a way to balance those two [are important].”

Per the NCAA, “student-athletes would be permitted to identify themselves by sport and school, the use of conference and school logos, trademarks or other involvement would not be allowed.”

There could still be other rules, guidelines and policies that come into effect with the new NIL proposal when the NCAA discusses it.