The fall sports season is underway. From football to soccer, golf to volleyball and cross-country to field hockey, students across Texas and beyond are returning to their respective athletic surfaces to participate in practices, games and tournaments. Virtually all previous COVID-related restrictions have been lifted, and teams could not be more excited to get back to the action.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, many Texas athletes are hard at work, seeking success and now financial gain. Fall 2021 is the first sports season with Texas’ new name, image likeness law in place. The new law, plus the NCAA lifting its rules preventing athletes from profiting off their name, image and likeness means college athletes can now sign endorsement deals and use their status as public figures to make money while still retaining their eligibility. Rep. Jim Murphy of Houston co-sponsored the bill in the Texas House. Rep. Murphy sat down with In Focus Texas host, Dr. Nicole Cross at the Texas Capitol to talk about his reasons for supporting the measure and his views on federal legislation aiming to follow suit.