Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The University of Akron, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what The University of Akron, its conference, the state of Ohio and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 23, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Akron
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | The "Name, Image, and Likeness Policy" in Akron's 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (posted on the athletics site; updates made on or after 2026-08-07 are highlighted). It covers reporting, timing, banned categories, facilities, logos and staff involvement, and applies from initial full-time enrollment or the start of official practice. Akron also still posts a 2021 "Student-Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness Policy" (updated 2021-10-26) that predates NIL Go | Akron Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; NIL Policy (2021-10-26) |
| How deals are disclosed | Handbook: deals with compensation of $600 or more (including in-kind items, and multiple deals with the same payer that add up to $600) are reported in NIL Go within five business days of agreeing to terms; athletes "must disclose NIL agreements for evaluation in NILGO and should submit them for approval before accepting any compensation." Akron posted an NIL Go how-to guide for athletes on 2026-09-03. NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 set the same $600 and five-business-day rule. Ohio law adds disclosure of a proposed contract to the school's designated official before entering it (R.C. 3376.06(C)); the handbook's five days run after agreeing to terms and it does not mention that earlier step | Akron Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 and NIL Go Student-Athlete How-To (2026-09-03); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/ohio |
| Banned categories | Akron's handbook bars NIL deals with alcohol products if the athlete is under 21; tobacco, including electronic smoking devices and vapor products; casinos or other entities promoting gambling; controlled substances; marijuana products, cultivators, processors, labs or dispensaries, legal or medical; and adult entertainment businesses. It also lists possible sponsor conflicts, such as products competing with Nike during team activities or beverages competing with Pepsi or Gatorade. Ohio law lets a school bar these categories (R.C. 3376.07) | Akron Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; /nil/college/ohio |
| School marks and group licensing | Athletes may use photos or videos containing University IP for personal brand building, but need pre-approval from the University Brand Organization office (ucm@uakron.edu) to use it in NIL activity, which "may require payment to the University (e.g., licensing fees, royalties)"; merchandise with University IP must be made by University licensees. An athlete may say they are an Akron student-athlete and list accolades. Group licensing: Not published | Akron Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists the University of Akron as participating in 2026-27 (read 2026-10-23). Akron Athletics' Competitive Excellence Fund page (2025) says the university "may license and compensate the student-athlete" for NIL, that the payments "will not be funded through student tuition dollars" but from athletics revenue such as fund donations, and that head coaches decide how sport-designated gifts are allocated. The handbook lists "revocation of revenue share agreement" among penalties for a false attestation form. No total or division is published | College Sports Commission; Akron Athletics, Competitive Excellence Fund (2025); Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| Collective or NIL group | Fear the Roo Collective. Akron Athletics' Competitive Excellence Fund page calls it "a supporter-driven initiative" that "will continue identifying and creating NIL opportunities for our Zips Student-Athletes" and answers "Not at all" to whether it will go away. Its own site (live on 2026-10-23) says it aims to "promote our athletes, support athletics and help the university grow". Akron also runs the Go Zips Exchange (INFLCR, 2023) and announced an Opendorse marketplace in 2022 | Akron Athletics, Competitive Excellence Fund (2025), INFLCR partnership (2023-10-03), Opendorse marketplace (2022-12-09); Fear the Roo Collective |
| Agents and representation | Handbook: athletes may hire agents, tax advisors, marketing consultants and attorneys for NIL; "Under Ohio law, agents must be registered unless they are an immediate family member"; hiring an agent to market athletic ability as a professional "may jeopardize" eligibility. Akron's compliance agents page says athletes "must receive permission from the Office of Athletics Compliance prior to any contact with agents, advisors, or anyone associated with them" and that hiring an agent for NIL purposes only is permissible. Ohio requires athlete agents to register with the Ohio athletic commission (R.C. 4771.06) | Akron Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 and Compliance, Agents; /nil/college/ohio |
| Compliance contact | Akron Athletics Compliance Office, ncaacompliance@uakron.edu (handbook). Matt Reinsel, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, mreinsel@uakron.edu; Miranna Berles, Director, Compliance, mberles@uakron.edu | Akron Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 and Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | In force. Ohio's R.C. Chapter 3376 lets Ohio colleges pay athletes for NIL, has athletes disclose a proposed deal to the school before entering it, and since 2026-03-20 voids NIL contracts that run past eligibility or send disputes outside Ohio | /nil/college/ohio |
What is specific to Akron
Akron answers the question "Is the University paying athletes?" on its own fundraising page. The Competitive Excellence Fund, launched by Akron Athletics after the House settlement, describes "institutional NIL agreements with student-athletes" paid from athletics revenue such as donations rather than tuition, lets donors designate a sport but not a particular athlete, and leaves allocation to head coaches; the Fear the Roo Collective continues alongside it. The 2026-27 handbook also lets Akron staff, coaches included, identify NIL opportunities and facilitate deals with third parties, as Ohio law allows, while barring staff from being paid for that help. And it sets a facilities rule few schools publish: NIL activity in an athletics facility may carry the rental rate if it runs past 30 minutes, involves non-athletes such as videographers, or needs the facility empty.
How Leave fits
In Leave, every deal thread carries a rules summary for the athlete's state and level, and keeps the contract, its dates and the disclosure deadline that applies. It is a summary, not a ruling; the school and the law decide. Leave is software, not an agent, and takes 0% of any deal. You decide, you send.
Questions about NIL at Akron
Does Akron pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists Akron as participating in revenue sharing for 2026-27, with a cap of approximately $21.58 million per school. Akron Athletics says its Competitive Excellence Fund supports institutional NIL agreements in which the university licenses and pays athletes for their NIL, funded from athletics revenue rather than tuition. Akron has not published amounts.
How do Akron Zips athletes report NIL deals?
Akron's 2026-27 handbook sends deals worth $600 or more to NIL Go within five business days of agreeing to terms, counting in-kind items and repeat deals with the same payer, and says athletes should submit them for approval before accepting payment. Ohio law also has athletes disclose a proposed contract to the school before signing.
What NIL collective works with Akron?
Akron Athletics names the Fear the Roo Collective on its Competitive Excellence Fund page and says it will keep creating NIL opportunities for Zips athletes. Its website was live on 2026-10-23. Businesses can also reach athletes through Akron's Go Zips Exchange.
Can Akron coaches help athletes find NIL deals?
Yes, under the 2026-27 handbook. Staff members, coaches included, may identify NIL opportunities, facilitate deals with third parties and help create content, but may not be paid for their involvement or pay an athlete for NIL, apart from purchases of up to $100.
Can Akron athletes shoot NIL content in the school's athletics facilities?
The handbook allows NIL activity in athletics facilities, but the athlete may be charged the facility rental rate when the activity runs past 30 minutes, involves non-athletes or needs the space empty. Reservations go through the Associate Athletics Director for Facilities, Events, and Operations.
Be your own agent. Leave.
