Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze said to answer long standings questions on future Name, Image and Likeness reforms, he’d like to see players sign a contract, just like coaches do.

“I’ve said publicly: You need to bring it to campus, and sign them to a contract just like I sign a contract,” Freeze said Wednesday morning talking to local reporters at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am in Birmingham. “If they want a one-year contract, great. If they want a two-year contract, great. But once you sign it, just like if I leave Auburn, somebody’s got to pay Auburn money. And it should be the same way in my opinion. I think that would bring a lot more sanity to it.”

Freeze’s proposal suggests specified payments to players instead of the uncontrolled and often behind-the-scenes deals taking place in the current system. His comment on possible one-year contracts would still allow transfer flexibility.

In April, the NCAA approved and ratified a rule change that will allow the schools themselves to help facilitate NIL deals, without the use of a third-party collective in the current system.

“Under the new rule — which was introduced by the council in January — member schools would be able to increase NIL-related support for student-athletes, including identifying NIL opportunities and facilitating deals between student-athletes and third parties,” NCAA.com wrote of the change. “Student-athletes are not obligated to accept assistance from the school and must maintain authority over the terms in their NIL agreements.”

There have been several calls around college sports, including from SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, to have the federal government provide a national standard for NIL policies.

“The reality is, only Congress can fully address the challenges facing college athletics,” Sankey said at the 2023 SEC Media Days in Nashville. “The NCAA cannot fix all of these issues, the courts cannot resolve all of these issues. The states cannot resolve all of these issues, nor can the conferences. Whether congressional action is achievable is a matter of debate. Much debate.

Alabama senator and former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville was scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday, but did not appear.

Tuberville has previously introduced an NIL bill. There are several NIL proposals that have been discussed in Congress since the NCAA opened up the sport to NIL in 2021. In January, Inside Higher Ed reported on a possible NIL bill working through House subcommittees.

It’s unclear what the imminent future of an NIL bill in Congress is.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]