Tennessee becomes 15th state to pass name, image, likeness law for college athletes

Tennessee became the 15th state to pass a bill allowing college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, and it's the sixth set to take effect on July 1, 2021.

Yes, but: If NCAA president Mark Emmert gets his way, a broader, nationwide measure will be enacted before that date. That seems unlikely, but he plans to meet with Congress this week.

Why it matters: If no federal NIL bill passes before July 1, schools in states who've already passed their own legislation could have a significant recruiting advantage.

The state of play: College athletes in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and New Mexico can begin profiting off NIL on July 1, 2021, and Arizona will join them three weeks later.

• Eight more states have passed laws set to take effect between 2022 and 2025: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey and South Carolina.
• And three states' NIL bills have already passed through either the state House or Senate: Maryland, Texas, and Kansas.

Go deeper: NCAA president says athletes should be able to get paid starting in 2021