Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Central Michigan University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Central Michigan University, its conference, the state of Michigan 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 Central Michigan
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "CMU NIL Policies" (posted 2024-08-30), linked from CMU Athletics' Name, Image and Likeness page with an NIL Tip Sheet (2024-08-15) and "NIL Education for Donors" (2024-08-30). The sheet is a short set of rules on disclosure, marks, phrases, content, memorabilia, payment sources, professional service providers, facilities and prohibited categories. CMU also still posts its 2021 C.O.R.E. NIL guide | CMU Athletics, CMU NIL Policies (2024-08-30), NIL Tip Sheet (2024-08-15), NIL Education for Donors (2024-08-30), C.O.R.E. NIL guide (July 2021) |
| How deals are disclosed | CMU NIL Policies: an athlete who receives an NIL compensation contract "should" disclose it to CMU Athletics through the ARMS disclosure form at least 7 days before performance of the agreement, stating who is paying, what NIL activity is provided and how much. The donor sheet says an athlete "must disclose to the institution any proposed contract regarding the use of NIL prior to signing." The 2024 Tip Sheet says disclosure "must be done 7 days prior to committing to the contract" and, on another page, that athletes "must disclose NIL agreements to CMU no later than 7 days after entering into or signing an agreement". NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Michigan law: disclosure to the school "at least 7 days prior to committing to the opportunity or contract" (MCL 390.1737(1)) | CMU Athletics, CMU NIL Policies; NIL Tip Sheet (2024-08-15); NIL Education for Donors; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/michigan |
| Banned categories | CMU NIL Policies bars NIL activity involving gambling, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products (including electronic and vapor products), controlled substances and marijuana, including medical marijuana and cultivators, processors, laboratories or dispensaries. The donor sheet also lists conflicts with CMU sponsor contracts (it names PepsiCo and Adidas as examples). Michigan's statute lists no categories | CMU Athletics, CMU NIL Policies; NIL Education for Donors; /nil/college/michigan |
| School marks and group licensing | CMU NIL Policies: no university logos, marks or official phrases (its example is "Fire Up Chips!") in NIL activity, and no clothing with university marks during it, without approval from the Central Michigan University Marketing and Communications Office; no content (photo, video, audio) provided by the school or featuring a university mark. CMU endorses Influxer's co-licensed NIL merchandise for all athletes. Group licensing: Not published | CMU Athletics, CMU NIL Policies; Name, Image and Likeness page |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists Central Michigan University as participating in 2026-27 (read 2026-10-23). No CMU statement on revenue sharing was found on its athletics site. CMU NIL Policies says athletes "cannot receive compensation from CMU or CMU staff for NIL activities", and the 2024 Tip Sheet says "At this time, a student-athlete cannot receive compensation from CMU for the use of their NIL" | College Sports Commission; CMU Athletics, CMU NIL Policies (2024-08-30) and NIL Tip Sheet (2024-08-15) |
| Collective or NIL group | CMU Athletics' NIL Task Force release (2024-08-15) lists programs "endorsed by CMU Athletics", including the Chippewa NIL Fund hosted by Charitable Gift America, whose athletes give 5 percent of each contract to a charity of their choice; the fund's page was live on 2026-10-23. CMU's current NIL page lists the Teamworks Influencer exchange and Influxer | CMU Athletics, NIL Task Force release (2024-08-15) and Name, Image and Likeness page; Charitable Gift America, Chippewa NIL Fund |
| Agents and representation | CMU's Agent and Advisor Policy requires anyone acting as an agent, a term that includes marketing representatives and brand managers, to register annually with the Compliance Office before contacting an athlete or family. CMU NIL Policies lets athletes use professional service providers for NIL advice, representation and marketing if they are not representing the athlete for professional opportunities or working for CMU. Michigan law says NIL representation comes from persons "licensed in this state, as applicable" (MCL 390.1735(3)); no Michigan agent registration statute was found | CMU Athletics, Agents and Advisors; CMU NIL Policies; /nil/college/michigan |
| Compliance contact | CMU Athletics Compliance, athlcompliance@cmich.edu. Zach Lowe, Associate Athletic Director, Compliance and Strategic Initiatives, lowe1zj@cmich.edu, (989) 774-3808. NIL program questions go to cmu_nil@cmich.edu | CMU Athletics, Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23), CMU NIL Policies, Agents and Advisors, and Name, Image and Likeness page |
| State law | In force. Michigan's 2020 PA 366 (MCL 390.1731 to 390.1741) has athletes disclose a deal to the school 7 days before committing, bars schools from paying recruits for NIL, and is silent on school pay to enrolled athletes | /nil/college/michigan |
What is specific to Central Michigan
Central Michigan puts NIL facilitation inside the athletic department. Its NIL Task Force, announced 2024-08-15, pairs the deputy director for external operations, the development office, compliance and student-athlete development "to provide proactive facilitation of Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities", and serves as the contact point for businesses and donors. The programs it endorsed in 2024 included the Chippewa NIL Fund, where athletes in Charitable Gift America contracts direct 5 percent of each contract to a charity they choose. CMU's written rules are short: a four-page sheet that also bars using school-provided photos and video, team-issued gear sales before eligibility ends, and official phrases such as "Fire Up Chips!" without approval.
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 Central Michigan
Does Central Michigan pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists CMU as participating in revenue sharing for 2026-27, with a cap of approximately $21.58 million per school. CMU has not published a statement or amounts, and its posted NIL rules still say athletes cannot receive NIL compensation from CMU or CMU staff.
How do CMU Chippewas athletes report NIL deals?
CMU's NIL Policies sheet says to disclose a contract through the ARMS disclosure form at least 7 days before it is performed. Michigan law sets the 7 days before the athlete commits to the deal, and the NCAA sends third-party deals of $600 or more to NIL Go within five business days.
What NIL collective or fund works with Central Michigan?
CMU Athletics' 2024 NIL Task Force release listed the Chippewa NIL Fund, hosted by Charitable Gift America, among the programs it endorsed; athletes in its contracts give 5 percent of each contract to a charity. CMU's current NIL page points businesses to its Teamworks Influencer exchange and Influxer merchandise.
Who helps Central Michigan athletes find NIL deals?
CMU's NIL Task Force, made up of athletic department staff from external operations, development, compliance and student-athlete development, facilitates NIL opportunities and is reached at cmu_nil@cmich.edu.
Do NIL agents have to register with Central Michigan?
CMU's agent policy asks anyone acting as an agent, including marketing representatives and brand managers, to register with the Compliance Office every year before contacting an athlete or family. Michigan law says NIL representation comes from persons licensed in the state where that applies.
Be your own agent. Leave.
