Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bowling Green State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Bowling Green State University, 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 Bowling Green
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | BGSU Policy 3341-8-3, "Student-Athlete Compensation for Use of Name, Image and Likeness" (registered 2021-08-06; Ohio Adm. Code 3341-8-03, effective 2021-08-06), owned by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. It states its purpose as enforcing Ohio Executive Order 2021-10D "and any subsequent state or federal legislation as applicable". The 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (posted 2026-09-22 as a draft) refers to this policy and to separate department guidance on NIL conduct | BGSU Policy 3341-8-3; Ohio Adm. Code 3341-8-03; BGSU Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| How deals are disclosed | Policy 3341-8-3: an athlete who intends to enter a paid NIL contract "must disclose the proposed contract" to the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance or designee "before agreeing to the contract", and may not sign, accept pay or deliver services until it is approved. NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Ohio law also has athletes disclose a proposed contract to the school before entering it (R.C. 3376.06(C)) | BGSU Policy 3341-8-3; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/ohio |
| Banned categories | Policy 3341-8-3 bars NIL contracts associating an athlete with companies that make, distribute or materially promote controlled substances, marijuana or medical marijuana products, alcohol, tobacco, electronic smoking devices, vapor or nicotine products, anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing drugs; medical marijuana cultivators, processors, laboratories or dispensaries; adult entertainment businesses; and casinos or entities that promote gambling, including sports betting. Contracts requiring sponsor display during official team activities and contracts conflicting with BGSU contracts are also barred. Ohio law lets a school bar these categories (R.C. 3376.07) | BGSU Policy 3341-8-3; /nil/college/ohio |
| School marks and group licensing | Policy 3341-8-3: no athlete may use BGSU intellectual property, including its name, marks, logos, colors and symbols, to earn NIL pay "without the prior written permission" of the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, and BGSU "may refuse to grant permission in its sole discretion"; athletes may still identify themselves as BGSU students and team members. Influxer has made officially licensed co-branded merchandise for BGSU athletes since 2024. Group licensing: Not published | BGSU Policy 3341-8-3; BGSU Athletics, Influxer partnership (2024-08-01) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists Bowling Green State University as participating in 2026-27 (read 2026-10-23). BGSU's Vice President for Athletics Strategy said on 2025-06-10 that "universities are now permitted to directly compensate student-athletes for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) through licensing deals." No total or division is published | College Sports Commission; BGSU Athletics, statement on the House settlement (2025-06-10) |
| Collective or NIL group | Not published by BGSU. The Ziggy Collective, "a BGSU fan-driven, alumni-led initiative" under the BPS Foundation, was reported by BG Independent News on 2023-10-29, not confirmed by the school; its website did not respond on 2026-10-23 and its current status is unknown. BGSU runs the BGSU Marketplace on Opendorse (2022) and works with INFLCR | BGSU Athletics, Opendorse marketplace (2022-10-12) and Influxer partnership (2024-08-01); BG Independent News (2023-10-29) |
| Agents and representation | Policy 3341-8-3: athletes may use an agent for NIL contracts, and the agent "must be registered under Ohio law (Revised Code Chapter 4771) unless the agent is an immediate family member"; using an agent to market athletic ability or secure professional opportunities "may jeopardize" eligibility. The policy also says the compliance office and the university "do not represent the student-athlete" and encourages athletes to obtain their own professional representation | BGSU Policy 3341-8-3; /nil/college/ohio |
| Compliance contact | BGSU Athletics Compliance. Erik Hildebrand, Senior Associate AD for Compliance and Student-Athlete Success, eriksh@bgsu.edu, 419-372-0529; Derek Downs, Director for Compliance, ddowns@bgsu.edu, 419-372-7844 | BGSU Athletics, Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | In force. R.C. Chapter 3376 lets Ohio colleges pay athletes for NIL and requires disclosure of a proposed NIL contract to the school before signing; contracts entered since 2026-03-20 may not outlast eligibility | /nil/college/ohio |
What is specific to Bowling Green
BGSU's NIL rules are a university rule printed in Ohio's administrative code. Policy 3341-8-3 is published as Ohio Adm. Code 3341-8-03, and it treats a breach as "an offense against the university community" handled under the Code of Student Conduct; after a finding of responsibility, the compliance office may decline to approve the athlete's future NIL contracts, with an appeal to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The rule is also a pre-approval rule, not only a reporting rule: no signing, payment or performance until Compliance approves, and a conflict with a BGSU contract sends the athlete back to renegotiate. The policy was written under Ohio's 2021 executive order, before Ohio's NIL statute and before revenue sharing; BGSU's 2025 statement on the House settlement says universities may now pay athletes directly through licensing deals.
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 Bowling Green
Does Bowling Green pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists BGSU as participating in revenue sharing for 2026-27, with a cap of approximately $21.58 million per school, and BGSU said in June 2025 that universities may now pay athletes for NIL through licensing deals. BGSU has not published amounts or how it divides the money.
Do BGSU athletes need approval before signing an NIL deal?
Policy 3341-8-3 says yes: the proposed contract goes to the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance before the athlete agrees to it, and the athlete may not sign, take pay or deliver services until it is approved. Deals of $600 or more also go to NIL Go within five business days under NCAA rules.
What happens if a Bowling Green athlete breaks the NIL policy?
The policy sends violations through the Code of Student Conduct. If the athlete is found responsible, the compliance office may also decline to approve that athlete's future NIL contracts; the athlete can appeal that decision to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, whose decision is final.
Is there an NIL collective for Bowling Green?
BGSU does not name one on its own sites. The Ziggy Collective, an alumni-led group under the BPS Foundation, was reported by BG Independent News on 2023-10-29, not confirmed by the school; its website did not respond on 2026-10-23 and its current status is unknown. BGSU runs an Opendorse marketplace for businesses and fans.
Can BGSU athletes use the Falcons logo in NIL deals?
Only with prior written permission from the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, which BGSU may refuse in its sole discretion. Athletes may still say they are BGSU students and members of their team.
Be your own agent. Leave.
