Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Indiana State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Indiana State University, its conference, the state of Indiana 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 Indiana State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Indiana State University Athletics Name, Image & Likeness Policy", effective 2021-07-01, still linked from the compliance page. It allows NIL pay that is not for athletic performance, not a recruiting inducement, "commensurate with the local market value" and not paid by ISU or an entity supporting it; protects grant-in-aid; bars NIL activity during countable athletically related activities and on ISU grounds and facilities; and states: "Due to federal law, student-athletes that are not residents of the United States are NOT allowed to engage in NIL activities." The 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook repeats much of it but says an ISU staff member "may be involved, to a limited extent, in the arrangement, facilitation of NIL activities", where the 2021 policy says staff "shall not be involved" | Indiana State Athletics, NIL Policy (2021-07-01) and 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook |
| How deals are disclosed | Three published rules. The 2021 policy: disclose agreements on an ISU form or through a third-party administrator such as INFLCR "no less than ten (10) business days prior to the initiation of NIL activities or entering into any type of NIL contractual arrangement". The 2025-26 handbook: "All NIL transactions/activities must be reported to the ISU Athletic Department (currently the Compliance Office) within thirty (30) days", and each agreement "must be reported to the ISU compliance office and updated on the INFLCR App". NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Crossroad of Champions deals run through Opendorse, whose "Auto-Disclose" reports them to Indiana State Athletics (2025-02-06). Indiana law sets no NIL disclosure rule | Indiana State Athletics, NIL Policy (2021), 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook and Opendorse release (2025-02-06); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | No Indiana statute lists NIL categories. Indiana State's own list (2021 policy and 2025-26 handbook): illicit drugs, NCAA banned substances, tobacco, alcohol, "Sex trade, nudity and illegal activities" (strip clubs are the example given), sports wagering and gambling. ISU may also block deals that conflict with an institutional sponsorship, go "against the values" of the university, would adversely affect its reputation, appear to be an ISU endorsement of a company, product, candidate or policy position, or are obscene or demeaning | Indiana State Athletics, NIL Policy (2021) and 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook; /nil/college/indiana |
| School marks and group licensing | Athletes may identify themselves as Indiana State athletes in NIL activity. Using ISU trademarks, logos, slogans or other intellectual property in a paid NIL deal requires approval through ISU's regular process, "which will include execution of an ISU licensing agreement", and "Nothing herein permits the use of NCAA or conference brands, marks or logos". A group licensing program is not published | Indiana State Athletics, NIL Policy (2021) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists Indiana State University as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). Christensen's letter of 2025-07-01 says revenue sharing "will be driven by dollars generated by the department" and that Crossroad of Champions "will provide vital revenue share support". No total or split by sport is published | Indiana State Athletics, House settlement letter (2025-07-01); College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | Crossroad of Champions. Indiana State's release of 2025-02-06 calls it "the Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) collective supporting Indiana State University student-athletes" and says it uses Opendorse "to pitch, fulfill, and pay every NIL activation". Christensen's 2025-07-01 letter describes moving "the former NIL Collective" Crossroad of Champions "to the Indiana State Foundation", and his 2025-10-07 letter says it was transitioned into the Indiana State University Foundation so that "all gifts are now tax-deductible and can be designated to the program of your choice". The 2025-26 annual report (2026-07-28) calls it the "Crossroad of Champions NIL fund". Its own site says it "is devoted to driving revenue for student-athletes" and links the Sycamores NIL Marketplace on Opendorse | Indiana State Athletics releases (2025-02-06, 2025-07-01, 2025-10-07, 2026-07-28); Crossroad of Champions website |
| Agents and representation | The 2021 policy allows professional representation for NIL, requires representatives to follow Indiana law, including registration of athlete agents with the Indiana Attorney General's Office, and requires athletes to "disclose engagement of professional representatives prior to the engagement". The 2025-26 handbook says agents "must register with the compliance office and with the Indiana Attorney General's Office before they are allowed to communicate with student-athletes". Agent registration with ISU starts by email to the compliance office. Indiana law (IC 25-5.2): athlete agents, including for endorsement contracts, register with the attorney general for two years, and the athlete has 14 days to cancel | Indiana State Athletics, NIL Policy (2021), 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook and Compliance page; /nil/college/indiana |
| Compliance contact | Indiana State Athletics Compliance Office, (812) 237-4086; the compliance page asks athlete agents and advisors to send correspondence to 401 North 4th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809. Joel McMullen, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance (joel.mcmullen@indstate.edu); Kirby Smith, NCAA Compliance Assistant Director (hired 2026-03-04) | Indiana State Athletics, Compliance page and Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | No statute. Indiana has passed no college NIL statute; its athlete agent act (IC 25-5.2) covers agents for endorsement contracts, with attorney general registration, a 14-day cancellation right and felony penalties for inducements | /nil/college/indiana |
What is specific to Indiana State
Indiana State's NIL money has moved inside the university in three steps, each published by the school. A "Sycamore Champions/NIL Fund" page on the athletics site, signed by fund president John Newton, a former executive director of the ISU Foundation, had donors' contributions handled by Student Athlete Empowerment and had athletes "provide service to the children of Terre Haute" through camps, schools and community events. By February 2025 the collective Indiana State named was Crossroad of Champions, with Newton among its leaders, using Opendorse for its deals and offering memberships for "as little as $10 per month". On 2025-07-01 Christensen announced that Indiana State had opted in and was moving Crossroad of Champions into the Indiana State University Foundation, where gifts are tax-deductible and can be aimed at one program; in January 2026 the school announced program-changing commitments to it for men's basketball from York Automotive and from trustee Troy Woodruff and Melissa Woodruff ($500,000). The written rules have not kept the same pace: the 2021 policy asks for disclosure ten business days before NIL activity, while the 2025-26 handbook says within 30 days.
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 Indiana State
Does Indiana State pay its athletes?
Indiana State opted in to House settlement revenue sharing; Director of Athletics Nathan Christensen announced it on 2025-07-01, and the College Sports Commission lists Indiana State University for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. The school has not published how much it pays or how the money is divided among sports. Gifts to Crossroad of Champions, now inside the ISU Foundation, are described as revenue share support.
What is Crossroad of Champions at Indiana State?
Indiana State described it in February 2025 as the NIL collective supporting Sycamore athletes, when it partnered with Opendorse. In July 2025 Indiana State announced it was moving it into the Indiana State University Foundation, so gifts are tax-deductible and can be designated to a program. Its website calls it "devoted to driving revenue for student-athletes".
How do Indiana State athletes report NIL deals?
The 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook says NIL activity is reported to the Compliance Office within 30 days and logged in the INFLCR app; the 2021 NIL policy, still posted, says ten business days before the activity or contract. Deals of $600 or more from third parties also go to NIL Go within five business days under NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2.
Can international athletes at Indiana State earn NIL money?
Indiana State's NIL policy (effective 2021-07-01, still linked from its compliance page) states: "Due to federal law, student-athletes that are not residents of the United States are NOT allowed to engage in NIL activities." Its 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook describes NIL as an initiative for student-athletes "not including non-U.S. citizens". Neither document names the federal law.
Is there an Indiana NIL law for Sycamore athletes?
No. Indiana has no college NIL statute. Its athlete agent act requires agents, including those who negotiate endorsement deals, to register with the attorney general, and Indiana State asks agents to register with its compliance office as well.
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