{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]],"date-time":"2026-05-08T09:10:31Z","timestamp":1778231431066,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)","issue":"5","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Management Science"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>We investigate the impact of personalized pricing through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights within college athletics on the recruitment of high school football players by college programs. We focus on whether the new policy disrupts competitive balance by increasing the concentration of talent among top-ranked institutions. Using a data set that encompasses pre- and post-NIL recruitment patterns to examine the distribution of 3, 4, and 5* recruits at college football programs, we find a notable increase in the dispersion of talent. Contrary to the hypothesis that NIL would lead to a \u201crich get richer\u201d dynamic, we observe a tendency for lower-ranked football programs to attract higher-quality recruits post-NIL, especially among 5- and lower ranked 4* athletes. Furthermore, we show that post-NIL 3* recruits are sacrificing schooling for NIL money and are attending colleges that are less selective and have lower SAT class averages and whose graduates earn a lower midcareer income. We also do not find evidence that schools that spend more money on football are attracting better talent post-NIL. Competitiveness improves post-NIL as sportsbooks set smaller point differentials even after controlling for talent, performance, and the transfer portal. Ultimately, this study offers a comprehensive examination of NIL\u2019s short-term effects on competitive balance and sets the stage for ongoing research into the long-term consequences of this landmark policy change.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>This paper was accepted by Duncan Simester, marketing.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1287\/mnsc.2024.06423 .<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1287\/mnsc.2024.06423","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T15:25:02Z","timestamp":1757345102000},"page":"4247-4281","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Does Personalized Pricing Increase Competition? 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