Clearinghouse

In college sports, “clearinghouse” is a genuinely ambiguous term, it gets used for more than one thing, and which one is meant depends on who you ask.

Q. Is the clearinghouse the same as NIL Go?

It depends who you ask. Within NIL Go’s own ecosystem, yes, NIL Go reviews third-party NIL deals and is often just called “the clearinghouse.” But in many compliance offices, “clearinghouse” still defaults to meaning the NCAA Eligibility Center, which predates NIL Go and has carried that nickname for years. Always clarify which one is meant.

Q. What does NIL Go’s clearinghouse function clear?

Third-party NIL deals worth $600 or more, at schools that opted into the settlement, against the valid business purpose and range of compensation tests.

Q. Is this the same as the NCAA Eligibility Center?

No, and this is the common confusion referenced above. The Eligibility Center certifies academic eligibility for incoming athletes and was historically also called a clearinghouse. It is unrelated to NIL Go.

Q. Is there a third “clearinghouse”?

Yes, the National Student Clearinghouse, a national registrar database, unrelated to either of the above. It verifies an athlete’s full enrollment history across institutions, which is particularly useful for catching a transfer who hasn’t disclosed prior attendance at a junior college.

Q. Who operates NIL Go?

The College Sports Commission, using a valuation model built by Deloitte.