Notre Dame AD says NCAA could splinter without stronger NIL rules: ‘We’ve got to get our act together’

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

College athletics has experienced a massive makeover over the past two years as name, image and likeness (NIL) has taken over. 

With players now able to profit from their name, athletes are basing decisions on where to play at least partly on how much money they stand to make during their college careers.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick is seen before the game against the Ball State Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Ball State 24-16. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

NIL collectives have been established across the country, seemingly creating a "pay-for-play" situation where athletes are being recruited with NIL deals as part of the pitch.

MIAMI'S CAVINDER TWINS INK NIL DEAL WITH CONTROVERSIAL AI COMPANY, HELP TEAM TO MARCH MADNESS UPSET

On Thursday, University of Notre Dame director of athletics Jack Swarbrick told Sports Illustrated that without stronger rules and regulations around NIL, and if student-athletes are deemed employees, the NCAA could splinter. 

Swarbrick said NIL spending is creating division among schools.

"If we can’t start to get ourselves to where we can make rational decisions like those and enforce them, the future will be more than one athletic association. I can tell you that," Swarbrick told SI.

"We’ve got to get our act together as college athletics and do the things we can do. We keep sort of implying we can’t address name, image and likeness. Of course, we can," he continued. "We can do it in ways requiring reporting on transactions, requiring that there be transactions. We have to take that on as opposed to looking