Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kansas State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Kansas State University, its conference, the state of Kansas and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 21, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Kansas State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Name, Image, and Likeness Policy" in K-State's 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (posted 2026-10-19, file dated 7.31.26), also published on K-State's NIL hub page. It allows NIL pay that complies with the policy and does "not exceed market value for the activity", bars pay "in exchange for, or conditioned upon" athletic performance or attendance, requires a "valid business purpose" and a deal within NIL Go's Range of Compensation, and says athletes who do not comply face possible NCAA eligibility issues and "discipline at the discretion of the Athletics Director including scholarship reductions and/or cancellation". Revisions are announced through Teamworks | K-State Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; NIL hub page |
| How deals are disclosed | The policy says "Student athletes must disclose NIL deals valued at $600 or more (cash or product in-kind) through NIL Go", that deals "should be reported within five (5) days of the agreement and prior to compensation being received", that multiple deals with one business totaling $600 are disclosed through NIL Go, and that deals under $600 "should" be disclosed on the Influencer App in Teamworks, also within five days. NCAA Bylaw 22.2.2.2 sets five business days. K-State's athletics site also posts a Student-Athlete NIL Activation Request form. No Kansas statute sets a disclosure rule | K-State Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 and NIL hub page; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | No Kansas statute lists NIL categories. K-State's policy bars third-party NIL deals involving a product or service that conflicts with NCAA, university or athletics policy, "including but not limited to" adult entertainment and pornography; alcohol; alternative or electronic nicotine products; bars and nightclubs; cannabis-related enterprises; drug and alcohol paraphernalia; casinos or other gambling services; nutritional supplements; performance enhancing drugs; recreational drugs; sports wagering; tobacco; and weapons. It also bars deals that violate the Student Code of Conduct or the handbook's responsibility statement or code of conduct, interfere with class, conflict with team activities, involve selling awards, apparel or equipment from K-State, or discredit the university | K-State Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| School marks and group licensing | The policy bars third-party NIL deals using K-State logos or trademarks without prior written permission, including "pictures, videos, graphics, apparel, identifying titles (i.e. Joe Smith, K-State Football Player)", says images in official team uniform, practice gear or replica jerseys with K-State marks are "strictly prohibited without written permission", and requires written permission to use K-State facilities or recorded game and practice film; "Consideration will be made for official corporate partners of K-State Athletics through our multi-media rights holder, LEARFIELD". Merchandise using K-State marks needs a vendor licensed by the Office of Licensing. A group licensing program: Not published | K-State Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists K-State as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school". K-State's New Era NIL page (web address dated 2025-11-24) says "K-State Athletics is fully committed to fully funding up to the cap each year of revenue sharing" and defines revenue sharing as payments by the athletic department for athletes' NIL "for promotion of the university and athletic programs". K-State's 2026-02-13 release says Julie Owen, executive director of cap management and revenue sharing, coordinates allocation with coaches and general managers and handles contract construction. K-State publishes no per-sport or per-athlete figures | College Sports Commission; K-State Athletics, New Era NIL page and release (2026-02-13) |
| Collective or NIL group | None outside the department now. K-State named Wildcat NIL, "an independently owned and operated group" of supporters, its official NIL partner on 2024-02-01. On 2025-12-01 K-State announced it would "absorb the roles and responsibilities of Wildcat NIL", that Wildcat NIL "will largely wind down its business operations by December 31, 2025" and "will continue to oversee and facilitate existing deals through June 30, 2026". K-State now points supporters to the Ahearn Fund's "Fighting Ever Fighting" campaign, the Cats+ subscription (publicly launched 2026-02-19 and powered by ONELIVE, which K-State describes as "a direct revenue stream to support Wildcat student-athletes") and third-party deals subject to NIL Go; its 2026-02-13 release names Brett Foltz, associate athletics director for NIL initiatives and strategic revenue, to lead third-party NIL work with K-State Sports Properties (Learfield) | K-State Athletics releases (2024-02-01, 2025-12-01, 2026-02-13, 2026-02-19) |
| Agents and representation | K-State's policy says athletes may use a professional service provider, such as an agent or lawyer, for NIL; providers "cannot be employees of K-State Athletics and must be registered with the Kansas Secretary of State as athlete agents as required by K.S.A. 44-1519 et seq.", and athletes may not secure representation for future professional contracts. The handbook's agents section counts marketing representatives and brand managers as agents and asks athletes who meet with an agent to complete an Agent form in ARMS. Kansas law: athlete agents register with the Secretary of State, and an agency contract includes one to negotiate an endorsement contract (K.S.A. 44-1517, 44-1519) | K-State Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; /nil/college/kansas |
| Compliance contact | K-State Compliance Office, Vanier Football Complex, Suite 248, Manhattan, KS 66502; 785-532-3990; Chris Nasuti, Senior Associate AD for Compliance. The NIL policy sends policy, disclosure and agent questions to Julie Owen, Executive Director of Cap Management and Revenue Sharing, and Marlei Soderquist, Assistant Director of NIL Operations | K-State Athletics, Compliance; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| State law | No statute. Kansas has passed no college NIL law (H.B. 2264 died in 2022 and H.B. 2800 in 2026); its Uniform Athlete Agents Act (K.S.A. 44-1516 to 44-1536) requires athlete agents to register with the Secretary of State | /nil/college/kansas |
What is specific to Kansas State
K-State brought all of its NIL work inside the athletics department. Wildcat NIL, an independent group of supporters, mostly former K-State athletes, that K-State named its official NIL partner in February 2024, agreed in December 2025 to hand its role to the department, wind down by the end of 2025 and finish existing deals by June 30, 2026. A 2026-02-13 release describes three NIL roles in the department: an executive director of cap management and revenue sharing, who coordinates allocation with coaches and general managers, handles revenue-share contract construction and is the department's liaison to the College Sports Commission on pending NIL Go submissions; an associate athletics director who seeks third-party deals with K-State Sports Properties; and an assistant director of NIL. Its written policy is detailed for a state without an NIL statute: 13 named barred categories, including nutritional supplements and bars and nightclubs, a rule that even an identifying title such as "K-State Football Player" needs permission, and a requirement that NIL agents register with the Kansas Secretary of State.
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 Kansas State
Does Kansas State pay its athletes?
Yes, through revenue sharing. K-State says it is fully committed to funding up to the cap each year, and the College Sports Commission lists K-State as participating in 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. K-State publishes no per-athlete amounts. Kansas has no statute on school payments.
What happened to Wildcat NIL?
K-State announced on 2025-12-01 that it would absorb the roles and responsibilities of Wildcat NIL, its official NIL partner since 2024-02-01. Wildcat NIL said it would largely wind down by December 31, 2025 and keep overseeing existing deals through June 30, 2026. Supporters are now directed to the Ahearn Fund, Cats+ and third-party deals reviewed through NIL Go.
How do K-State athletes report NIL deals?
K-State's policy sends deals of $600 or more to NIL Go within five days of the agreement and before payment, and deals under $600 to the Influencer app in Teamworks, also within five days. NCAA Bylaw 22.2.2.2 sets five business days for NIL Go.
What can't Kansas State athletes endorse?
K-State's policy names adult entertainment, alcohol, nicotine and tobacco products, bars and nightclubs, cannabis businesses, drug and alcohol paraphernalia, casinos and gambling, nutritional supplements, performance enhancing drugs, recreational drugs, sports wagering and weapons, and bars deals that conflict with team activities or K-State's conduct rules.
Do NIL agents need to register to work with K-State athletes?
K-State's policy says an athlete's NIL representative cannot be a K-State Athletics employee and must be registered with the Kansas Secretary of State as an athlete agent under K.S.A. 44-1519. The handbook also asks athletes who meet with an agent to file an Agent form in ARMS.
Be your own agent. Leave.
