Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kent State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Kent 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 Kent State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Kent State University Guideline on Student-Athlete Name, Image, Likeness Activity", posted 2022-04-06 (file dated 2021-11-16; revision history 2021-10-14 and 2021-10-22) and still linked as "Kent State NIL Guidelines" from the NIL Headquarters page. It is written under Ohio Executive Order 2021-10D, applies to athletes on a team's official active roster, covers paid and unpaid NIL activity, bars pay contingent on enrollment or tied to "any specific athletic performance or achievement", bars NIL activity while athletes are required to be present for official team activities, and lists sanctions from reprimands to dismissal from the program. The Student-Athlete Handbook (last revised January 2025) has no NIL section | Kent State Athletics, NIL Guideline (2021); NIL Headquarters page (2024-07-23); Student-Athlete Handbook (January 2025) |
| How deals are disclosed | NIL Go for third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Kent State's guideline says an athlete is "first required to complete an NIL Disclosure Form" with the written agreement, or a summary of a verbal one, and that "The disclosure form and agreement must be provided in advance of beginning any NIL activity." The disclosure form (file dated 2021-09-27) words it differently: "Before entering into any NIL Agreement for compensation", the athlete submits the completed form to the Compliance Office and receives "written notice" from that office that the disclosure requirement is met. The form asks for the business, the activity, payment method and the total agreed payment or value. If Kent State finds a conflict with a university contract, the athlete may negotiate a revision and submit it "for review before signing". The NIL page says the form is emailed to the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance. Ohio law separately has the athlete disclose a proposed contract to the school before entering it (R.C. 3376.06(C)) | NCAA 2026-27 Division I Manual; Kent State NIL Guideline (2021); NIL Headquarters page; R.C. 3376.06 |
| Banned categories | Kent State's guideline restricts companies or brands associated with a controlled substance, marijuana or medical marijuana products, and tobacco, electronic smoking, vapor or nicotine products; medical marijuana cultivators, processors, laboratories or dispensaries; adult entertainment businesses; "Any casino or entity that sponsors or promotes gambling activities"; and similar categories Kent State deems "contrary to the values of the university". If a deal falls in a restricted category, the guideline says the athlete "will be prohibited from entering into the proposed contract". The NIL Headquarters page's Q and A lists "marijuana product (medical or recreational)". Neither document lists alcohol. Ohio law lets a school bar these categories, now including adult-use marijuana and alcohol (R.C. 3376.07) | Kent State NIL Guideline (2021); NIL Headquarters page; R.C. 3376.07 |
| School marks and group licensing | Kent State's guideline says athletes "may not use Kent State logos, trademarks, service marks, symbols, or any other intellectual property, without appropriate licensing approval", including photos or videos showing them "regardless of how you obtained the photo or video". Athletics may grant limited permission on written request, and requests go to the Deputy Athletics Director for licensing. Its Q and A says athletes may describe themselves as a Kent State athlete if the statement is accurate and does not stand out from other printed words. A 2025-01-23 release from The NIL Store, posted on Kent State Athletics' site, announced a Kent State NIL Store (part of Campus Ink's NIL Store network) whose merchandise is "officially licensed by Kent State University" | Kent State NIL Guideline (2021); NIL Headquarters page; NIL Store release (2025-01-23) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists Kent State as a participating school for 2026-27. Kent State's Excellence Funds release (2025-07-21) says the funds, housed in the Kent State University Foundation and created "in response to the House v. NCAA settlement", "directly support the retention and recruitment of student-athletes, at the head coach and A.D. discretion, through direct compensation to student-athletes", starting with baseball, football, men's and women's basketball and wrestling; gifts may be designated to a team, not to an athlete. Kent State has published no total for revenue sharing | Kent State Athletics, Excellence Funds release (2025-07-21); College Sports Commission, Revenue Sharing and Participating Schools |
| Collective or NIL group | The Blue and Gold Collective. Kent State Athletics announced a partnership with it on 2024-11-26, calling it "a Kent-based initiative", and its 2025-01-23 release calls it "Kent State's official NIL collective". The Excellence Funds release (2025-07-21) says it "will continue operating independently" and "complements, but is separate from, the university's new excellence funds and revenue-sharing initiatives". Its own site, live on 2026-10-23, says it was formed in 2022 by Mike Beder, Edmond Mack and Mark Frisone. Kent State also uses Opendorse as its NIL marketplace | Kent State Athletics releases (2024-11-26, 2025-01-23, 2025-07-21); Blue and Gold Collective site |
| Agents and representation | Kent State's guideline lets athletes use "marketing agents, tax advisors, and legal advisors" for NIL at the normal cost, says free or discounted services may be an extra benefit, and says an agent may not be hired to negotiate with professional teams or market athletic ability to them. The January 2025 handbook repeats NCAA agent rules. Ohio law requires athlete agents to register with the Ohio athletic commission (R.C. 4771.06) and, since 2026-03-20, bars NIL agent contracts that run past eligibility (R.C. 4771.021) | Kent State NIL Guideline (2021); Student-Athlete Handbook (January 2025); R.C. Chapter 4771 |
| Compliance contact | Kent State Athletics Compliance, Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, phone 330-672-8400, ptizio@kent.edu (NIL Headquarters page and staff directory, read 2026-10-23) | Kent State Athletics, NIL Headquarters page and Staff Directory |
| State law | Ohio's college NIL law, R.C. Chapter 3376, is in force. Ohio schools may pay athletes for NIL, athletes disclose a proposed deal to the school before entering it, and NIL contracts signed since 2026-03-20 may not run past eligibility or send disputes outside Ohio | /nil/college/ohio |
What is specific to Kent State
Kent State built its NIL support around donor funds and a separate collective. Its July 2025 Excellence Funds, housed in the Kent State University Foundation and opened first for baseball, football, men's and women's basketball and wrestling, are described by Kent State as funds that support athletes "at the head coach and A.D. discretion, through direct compensation to student-athletes"; gifts count toward Golden Flashes Club membership advantages but cannot be directed to a specific athlete. Beside them, Kent State Athletics has promoted The Blue and Gold Collective's fan programs: a 2025-01-23 partnership with Roy, an app through which fans pay athletes for exclusive video content, and the 2025-03-24 Pitching Change round-up program, which Kent State's release tied to "future revenue share opportunities available for student-athletes", saying the funds raised would help Kent State "retain and recruit". The NIL education program Kent State launched in 2022, The NIL Nest, included NIL topics in a one-credit-hour NCAA Policies and Leadership course hosted by the sport administration degree program. Kent State's own written NIL rules, though, still date from 2021 and cite the Governor's Executive Order 2021-10D.
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 Kent State
Does Kent State pay its athletes?
Kent State says yes. Its 2025-07-21 Excellence Funds release answers "Will Kent State University pay the student-athletes?" with "Yes", tied to the House v. NCAA settlement, and the College Sports Commission lists Kent State as a participating school for 2026-27, when the cap is approximately $21.58 million per school. Kent State has published no total and no per-sport amounts.
What NIL collective works with Kent State?
The Blue and Gold Collective, which Kent State Athletics called "Kent State's official NIL collective" on 2025-01-23 and announced as a partner on 2024-11-26. Kent State's 2025-07-21 release says the collective "will continue operating independently" and is separate from the university's Excellence Funds and revenue-sharing initiatives. The collective's site says it was formed in 2022.
How do Kent State athletes report NIL deals?
Two ways. Third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Kent State's own guideline also has athletes send an NIL Disclosure Form and the agreement to compliance "in advance of beginning any NIL activity" (the form itself says "Before entering into any NIL Agreement for compensation"), and Ohio law has athletes disclose a proposed contract to the school before entering it (R.C. 3376.06(C)).
What are Kent State's Excellence Funds?
Sport-specific giving funds launched 2025-07-21 and housed in the Kent State University Foundation. Kent State says they support retention and recruitment "at the head coach and A.D. discretion, through direct compensation to student-athletes". The first funds cover baseball, football, men's and women's basketball and wrestling, and donors may choose a team but not a specific athlete.
Can Kent State athletes do NIL deals with gambling or marijuana companies?
Not under Kent State's guideline, which restricts deals with casinos or any entity that promotes gambling, marijuana and medical marijuana products and businesses, controlled substances, tobacco and vaping products, and adult entertainment, plus similar categories Kent State finds contrary to its values. Ohio law (R.C. 3376.07) lets schools bar these categories.
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