Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Howard University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Howard University, its conference, the state of District Of Columbia and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 22, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Howard
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Not published. The newest Student-Athlete Handbook on Howard's athletics site (2021-22) has a one-page NIL section summarizing the NCAA's interim policy and ending "For more guidance and information, consult Compliance office". The site also posts a 2020 NCAA resource, "Name, Image and Likeness: What Student-Athletes Should Know" (posted 2021-07-21) | Howard University Athletics, 2021-22 Student-Athlete Handbook and NIL resource (2021-07-21) |
| How deals are disclosed | NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more are reported to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). D.C. law: the athlete gives the office the school designates a copy of any NIL agreement worth more than $300 before the earlier of being paid or doing the activity (D.C. Code § 38-1631.06). Howard's own process: Not published | NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/district-of-columbia |
| Banned categories | D.C. law bars NIL agreements or pay contingent on illegal activity or on endorsing alcohol, tobacco or electronic smoking devices, controlled substances or marijuana, anabolic steroids, performance enhancing substances the athletic association prohibits, sports betting, gambling, firearms or adult entertainment (D.C. Code § 38-1631.04(g)). Howard's own list: Not published by Howard (The Mecca Society's FAQ lists categories, but it is the collective's page, not a Howard document) | /nil/college/district-of-columbia |
| School marks and group licensing | Not published as an NIL rule. Howard's news site (The Dig, 2025-10-16) says the CEV Collection sunglasses made with Howard Football, the program's first brand partnership, were "executed under a university-approved trademark licensing agreement authorizing promotional use of university marks for campaign content", with proceeds to The Mecca Society | The Dig at Howard University, CEV Collection and Howard Football (2025-10-16) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists Howard University (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-22). Not published by Howard: no Howard statement on revenue sharing was found. D.C. law no longer bars schools from paying athletes for NIL (former § 38-1631.05(e), repealed effective 2026-02-03) | College Sports Commission; /nil/college/district-of-columbia |
| Collective or NIL group | The Mecca Society: Howard's athletics site lists it first under its NIL menu (read 2026-10-22), and The Dig (2025-10-16) says its CEV partnership proceeds "will directly benefit The Mecca Society, supporting Howard student-athletes through name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities". The Mecca Society calls itself "a transparent, community-driven platform for Name, Image, and Likeness success", and its FAQ says collectives are "separate and independent from Howard University". A 2026-07-01 Howard Athletics news item links to Instacart's 2026-06-26 announcement of a "Home Team" summer hunger campaign with Howard University Athletics and The Mecca Society, which Instacart calls "Howard's NIL collective", featuring 10 Howard athletes. The same NIL menu links Opendorse and Influxer merchandise pages for Howard athletes | Howard University Athletics, site NIL menu and news item (2026-07-01); The Dig (2025-10-16); The Mecca Society; Instacart (2026-06-26) |
| Agents and representation | Howard's Agents page reproduces NCAA agent definitions and the NCAA certification rule for men's basketball agents; no Howard NIL-specific agent rule was found. D.C. law: an NIL agent registers in the District as an athlete agent before acting, the fee must be consistent with industry custom, and schools may help athletes select, arrange for or pay an NIL agent (D.C. Code §§ 47-2889.02, 38-1631.05(a)) | Howard University Athletics, Compliance: Agents; /nil/college/district-of-columbia |
| Compliance contact | Howard University Athletics, Academics, Compliance and Student Services; Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, (202) 957-7420 (staff directory, read 2026-10-22) | Howard University Athletics, Staff Directory |
| State law | The District of Columbia's Uniform College Athlete Name, Image, or Likeness Act (D.C. Code §§ 38-1631.01 to .11) requires disclosure of NIL agreements over $300, lists banned categories, requires schools to offer financial literacy programming and, since 2026-02-03, no longer bars school NIL pay; in force | /nil/college/district-of-columbia |
What is specific to Howard
Howard is a historically Black university in the MEAC, and its public NIL record is mostly about access and money skills rather than written rules. Before NIL began, Howard's then-president, Wayne A. I. Frederick, told the Senate Commerce Committee (written statement, 2021-06-09) that "student-athletes should be able to retain agents to allow them to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness", and that "We cannot have legislation that privileges the already privileged institutions while placing further burdens on colleges and universities that are already struggling to bear our heavy loads." Since then Howard's own news site has reported football's first brand partnership, a CEV Collection sunglasses line made under a university trademark license with proceeds to The Mecca Society (2025-10-16), and a June 2026 financial wellness workshop with Chime and Budget University on budgeting, credit and "how to responsibly manage and maximize NIL earnings". In October 2026 it announced a Wells Fargo financial symposium for athletes on campus on 2026-10-02. D.C. law requires Howard, like every District school, to offer financial literacy and life skills programming to athletes.
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 Howard
Does Howard pay its athletes?
Howard is on the College Sports Commission's list of revenue-sharing schools for 2026-27, and the Commission puts the cap at about $21.58 million per school. Howard has published no statement or breakdown of its own. D.C. law has not barred schools from paying athletes for NIL since 2026-02-03.
What NIL collective supports Howard athletes?
The Mecca Society. Howard's athletics site links it under its NIL menu, and Howard's news site reported in October 2025 that proceeds from football's CEV sunglasses partnership go to The Mecca Society to support athletes' NIL opportunities. In June 2026 Instacart announced a campaign with Howard Athletics and The Mecca Society, which it called Howard's NIL collective, and Howard Athletics linked it from its news page. The Mecca Society's own FAQ says collectives are separate and independent from Howard.
How do Howard athletes report NIL deals?
NCAA rules have third-party deals of $600 or more reported to NIL Go within five business days. D.C. law has the athlete give the school's designated office a copy of any NIL agreement worth more than $300 before being paid or doing the work, whichever comes first. Howard has not posted a process of its own; its handbook points athletes to the Compliance office.
Can Howard athletes use Howard logos in NIL deals?
Howard has not published an NIL rule on its marks. Its October 2025 CEV partnership was done under a university-approved trademark licensing agreement, which Howard's news site says authorized promotional use of university marks for that campaign.
Does an NIL agent need to register to represent a Howard athlete?
Under D.C. Code § 47-2889.02, an NIL agent registers in the District as an athlete agent before acting, and the fee must be consistent with industry custom. Howard's Agents page reproduces NCAA agent rules, including certification for men's basketball agents.
Be your own agent. Leave.
