Starting Thursday, student athletes in the United States will earn free income from endorsement deals and other commercial activities, after the college sports management committee (College Sport) gave them the green light.

A statement from the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) stated that from July 1, strict rules prohibiting athletes from earning income from their names, Sneakers2090 images and portraits have been suspended.

NCAA Chairman Mark Emmert said in a statement: “This is an important day for college athletes because they can now take advantage of names, images and similar opportunities.”

“As various state laws are passed across the country, we will continue to work with Congress to develop a solution that provides clarity at the national level.

“The current legal and legislative environment prevents us from providing more durable solutions, nor can we provide the detailed content that student athletes deserve.”

The decision of the NCAA board of directors marked a huge change in the lucrative landscape of college sports. Athletes have been required to abide by strict amateurism standards, despite the fact that they generate billions of dollars in revenue for the school every year.

More than a dozen U.S. states have passed laws that will come into effect making it illegal for universities to implement current NCAA rules, which prohibit athletes from profiting from their name, image, or appearance (none).

The NCAA said on Wednesday that individuals are now free to engage in NIL activities that comply with the laws of the country where their school is located.

Fans packed a stadium for the 2018 American College Football Game in North Carolina. Jordan Sale USA Photo: GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GRANT HALVERSON.

This policy change is described as a temporary solution, intended to be used before formal federal legislation on student athletes is passed.

However, the NCAA reiterated that although the NIL rules have been relaxed, the university sports’s opposition to “pay-for-play” and the provision to lure athletes into specific schools are still valid.

Sandra Jordan, president of the University of South Carolina Aiken, said, “Any new rules must uphold these principles.”

College sports are very popular in the United States, with basketball and American football teams receiving national news reports and prime time television viewing.

Games are usually held in front of the stadium, and college coaches usually earn millions of dollars in salary each year.

Many college Grizzlies coaches earn higher salaries than their NFL counterparts.