The new agency in charge of regulating name, image, likeness deals in college sports sent a letter to schools Thursday saying it had rejected deals between players and donor-backed collectives formed over the past several years to funnel money to athletes or their schools.

It officially ends any administrative restrictions to athletes’ NIL compensation within limits, but it allows schools and conferences to establish what is — and isn’t — permissible. Should the federal legislation pass, it would override current state NIL laws, which vary from border to border.

New CSC memo rejects donor-funded NIL contracts, leaving recruits in limbo and raising fresh antitrust questions.