NIL Knowledge Hub

NIL resources: rules, guides and answers

NIL (name, image and likeness) is an athlete's right to be paid for the commercial use of their identity, and this hub explains how it works for college athletes, high school athletes, parents, schools, brands and agencies. Every page cites its official sources and shows the date it was last reviewed.

Last reviewed October 11, 2026

Start here

What Is NIL?NIL means name, image and likeness: an athlete's right to be paid when a business uses their identity. How NIL works in 2026, who sets the rules and what changed.NIL Rules and ComplianceThe NIL rules that apply in 2026: NCAA and College Sports Commission rules, state laws, high school associations, reporting, banned categories and disclosure.NIL for College AthletesHow college athletes earn NIL money in 2026: third-party deals, NIL Go reporting, revenue sharing from schools, roster limits, transfers, taxes and what to watch for.NIL for High School AthletesCan high school athletes make NIL money? In most states yes, under state association rules. What is allowed, what is banned, reporting, parents and college recruiting.The House Settlement and Revenue SharingThe House v. NCAA settlement lets schools pay athletes directly: the $20.5M and $21.58M caps, what counts, roster limits, back pay, opting in and who enforces it.The NIL Go ClearinghouseNIL Go is the College Sports Commission's clearinghouse for Division I NIL deals: the $600 reporting rule, five-day deadline, how deals are reviewed and how to appeal.NIL CollectivesNIL collectives pool supporters' money to pay a school's athletes for NIL work. How they work after the House settlement, NIL Go review, taxes and high school bans.NIL TaxesHow NIL money is taxed: income tax, 15.3% self-employment tax, quarterly estimates, free products, the $2,000 1099 rule for 2026, deductions and state taxes.NIL ContractsWhat to check in an NIL contract: deliverables, pay, length, exclusivity, content rights, morals clauses, NIL Go clearance, school conflicts, minors and red flags.How Brands Work With AthletesA brand's guide to NIL deals: finding athletes, NIL Go review and documentation, school marks, FTC disclosure, high school rules, minors and banned categories.NIL for ParentsA parent's guide to NIL: what high school and college athletes may do, signing for a minor, reporting, contracts, taxes, recruiting rules and red flags.NIL for Schools, Leagues and AssociationsWhat colleges, high schools, conferences and state associations must do on NIL in 2026: revenue sharing, CAPS, roster limits, policies, education and enforcement.NIL for AgenciesWhat NIL agencies and agents need to know: state registration, the federal SPARTA law, fee caps, NIL Go facilitators, college and high school limits and contracts.

NIL rules by state

All states →

NIL rules by state for college and high school athletes
State	College NIL law	High school NIL	Last reviewed
Alabama	No (repealed in 2022)	Not allowed	October 11, 2026
Alaska	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Arizona	Yes: A.R.S. § 15-1892	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Arkansas	Yes: Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
California	Yes: Cal. Educ. Code § 67456	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Colorado	Yes: C.R.S. 23-16-301 et seq.	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Connecticut	Yes: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10a-56	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Delaware	Limited: SB 297 (2022, mostly athlete agents)	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
District of Columbia	Yes: D.C. college athlete NIL law (amended 2025)	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Florida	Yes: Fla. Stat. § 1006.74	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Georgia	Yes: O.C.G.A. § 20-3-680 et seq.	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Hawaii	Pending: SB 3263 (2026)	Unverified	October 11, 2026
Idaho	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Illinois	Yes: 110 ILCS 190	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Indiana	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Iowa	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Kansas	No state statute	Unverified	October 11, 2026
Kentucky	Yes: KRS 164.6941 to 164.6951	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Louisiana	Yes: La. R.S. 17:3701 et seq.	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Maine	Yes: LD 1893 (2022)	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Maryland	Yes: Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Massachusetts	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Michigan	Yes: MCL 390.1731 et seq.	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Minnesota	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Mississippi	Yes: Mississippi Intercollegiate Athletics Compensation and Rights Act	Not allowed	October 11, 2026
Missouri	Yes: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 173.280	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Montana	Yes: SB 248 (2023)	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Nebraska	Yes: Nebraska Fair Pay to Play Act (LB 962)	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Nevada	Yes: AB 254 (2021)	Unverified	October 11, 2026
New Hampshire	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
New Jersey	Yes: New Jersey Fair Play Act	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
New Mexico	Yes: Student Athlete Endorsement Act	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
New York	Yes: N.Y. Educ. Law § 6438-c	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
North Carolina	No statute (executive order rescinded)	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
North Dakota	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Ohio	Yes: Ohio Rev. Code ch. 3376	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Oklahoma	Yes: Student Athlete NIL Rights Act	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Oregon	Yes: SB 5 (2021), amended 2022 and 2024	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Pennsylvania	Yes: Act 26 of 2021	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Rhode Island	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
South Carolina	Yes: Act 35 of 2021, amended 2024	Not allowed	October 11, 2026
South Dakota	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Tennessee	Yes: Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-2801 et seq.	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Texas	Yes: Tex. Educ. Code § 51.9246	Not allowed	October 11, 2026
Utah	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Vermont	No state statute	Unverified	October 11, 2026
Virginia	Yes: Va. Code § 23.1-408.1	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Washington	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
West Virginia	Yes: NIL Protection Act (HB 2576, 2025)	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Wisconsin	No state statute	Allowed with limits	October 11, 2026
Wyoming	No state statute	Not allowed	October 11, 2026

Guides

How to Disclose Sponsored NIL Posts
How to label paid and gifted NIL posts under FTC rules: where to put the disclosure, which words to use, video and live content, and common mistakes.
How to Get Your First NIL Deal
How athletes land a first NIL deal: check the rules, build a profile, start local, pitch businesses, price fairly, get it in writing and report it.
High School NIL Deal Checklist
A 10-step checklist for high school athletes and parents before signing an NIL deal: state rules, school marks, recruiting, notice deadlines, contracts and taxes.
Planning a Revenue Sharing Budget
How athletic departments plan revenue sharing under the House settlement cap: what counts, the 2026-27 cap, CAPS reporting, rosters, offsets and gender equity.
How to Report an NIL Deal to NIL Go
Step-by-step: when a Division I NIL deal must go to NIL Go, what to gather, the five-day deadline, what happens next and what to do if it is not cleared.

NIL glossary

All 66 terms →

Free NIL tools

State NIL Rules LookupHigh school NIL status, parental consent and school approval for every state and DC.NIL Legislative TrackerState and federal NIL bills, laws and rules, and where each stands.NIL Go Threshold CheckerWhether a college deal reaches the $600 NIL Go reporting threshold.Revenue Sharing Cap CalculatorModel a school's revenue-sharing allocation across sports under the House settlement cap.Free resource libraryPlaybooks, templates and checklists for talent, schools, brands, agencies, parents and fans.

Quick answers

What does NIL stand for?

NIL stands for name, image and likeness: an athlete's name, nickname, picture, likeness, signature, voice and other identifiable features, and their right to be paid when a business uses them.

Can high school athletes get NIL deals?

In most states, yes, under the state high school association's rules, which usually bar school logos and uniforms and any deal tied to recruiting. A few states still do not allow it; see NIL rules by state.

Do college athletes have to report NIL deals?

Yes. NCAA Division I athletes must report third-party NIL deals worth $600 or more, in total, to the NIL Go clearinghouse within five business days. See the NIL Go clearinghouse.

This is general information, not legal advice. NIL rules differ by state, school, association and sport, and they change often. Check the official sources linked on this page and talk with your school's compliance office, your state association or a licensed attorney before you sign anything.

Put NIL to work

Athletes, families, schools, brands and agencies run NIL on NIL Innovations, with reporting, disclosures and compliance checks built in. It's free to join.

Join free