Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Memphis, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what University of Memphis, its conference, the state of Tennessee 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 Memphis
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Memphis publishes its NIL rules as an FAQ on its MaximUM page (posted 2022-02-17 and read 2026-10-23), which opens "As of July 1, 2021" and covers pay, disclosure, banned categories, representation, facilities, intellectual property and team apparel. It points to "gotigersgo.com/nil for a complete list of resources"; that address returned a not-found page on 2026-10-23. No Memphis student-athlete handbook or university policy on NIL was found | Memphis Athletics, MaximUM NIL FAQ |
| How deals are disclosed | The FAQ: "A student-athlete must disclose to UM all compensated NIL Activities through Opendorse", including the verbal or written agreement, who pays, the amount, and when and where the activity takes place. NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Tennessee law says an athlete "may be required" to disclose to the school and sets no number of days | Memphis Athletics, MaximUM NIL FAQ; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/tennessee |
| Banned categories | Tennessee law bars NIL that promotes gambling, tobacco, THC products, alcohol and adult entertainment and lets a school bar activity in conflict with its values (T.C.A. 49-7-2802(g)). The Memphis FAQ lists gambling in any format including sports wagering, alcohol products, beverages or brands, NCAA-banned substances, controlled substances, marijuana, tobacco and nicotine products, adult entertainment, and "Any Product Inconsistent with the Values & Mission of the UM". NIL activity may not conflict with academic, team or UM operations | Memphis Athletics, MaximUM NIL FAQ; /nil/college/tennessee |
| School marks and group licensing | The FAQ says athletes "are not outright prohibited" from using Memphis intellectual property, but "prior written approval is necessary" and rights may require a written agreement; this covers logos, protected phrases, UM-produced photos and video, and UM merchandise. Uniforms and UM-issued apparel are not worn in NIL activity without written approval, and no non-sponsor insignia is worn during team activities. UM property is used only if rented. A group licensing program is not described on the pages reviewed | Memphis Athletics, MaximUM NIL FAQ |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists the University of Memphis as participating in 2026-27. No Memphis statement on its revenue-sharing plan was found on its athletics site; Memphis has not published a 2026-27 total or its division by sport | College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | Memphis' 2023-12-07 release added Bluff City Collective "as one of its official Name, Image and Likeness collectives", joining the 901 Fund, which would "continue to support all sports"; the collective said its "sole purpose is to assist Coach Hardaway" and men's basketball. On 2026-10-23 the Bluff City Collective address showed no collective content, and the 901 Fund's own site thanked supporters and said "future support opportunities for Memphis student-athletes are now being directed through the Memphis Athletics Fund (MAF)". FedEx announced on 2024-04-19 an NIL program of "$5M per year for the next five years" for Memphis athletes promoting FedEx (Memphis' media room published the same figure); Memphis said on 2025-08-20 that FedEx and Memphis Athletics "have transitioned the previous Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) arrangement into an innovative sponsorship agreement", and its 2026-04-09 release says FedEx "will continue to feature University of Memphis student-athletes in their marketing initiatives". Memphis' 2026-07-07 Learfield renewal adds "a pair of new NIL-dedicated staff members" at Tiger Sports Properties, and Memphis links an Opendorse marketplace | Memphis Athletics releases (2023-12-07, 2025-08-20, 2026-04-09, 2026-07-07); 901 Fund; FedEx newsroom and UofM media room (2024-04-19) |
| Agents and representation | The FAQ: an athlete "may secure representation by a third-party, such as an agent" for NIL; the representative must be a fiduciary; an agent must satisfy Tennessee licensure, and an attorney must be active and in good standing. Tennessee law requires athlete agents to register under Part 21 ($500, two years), does not count parents, siblings, grandparents, spouses or guardians as agents, and limits a representation agreement to the athlete's participation in the program | Memphis Athletics, MaximUM NIL FAQ; /nil/college/tennessee |
| Compliance contact | Memphis Department of Athletics NCAA Compliance Office, 570 Normal Street, Memphis, TN 38152, tigerscompliance@memphis.edu; Sean Tuttle, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Compliance, sean.tuttle@memphis.edu; Camie Cole, Assistant Athletic Director, Name, Image & Likeness, ccole18@memphis.edu; the FAQ names the NIL office at nil@memphis.edu | Memphis Athletics, Compliance Office, Staff Directory and MaximUM NIL FAQ |
| State law | In force. Tennessee's Part 28 (T.C.A. 49-7-2801 to 2804), rewritten in 2025, lets athletes be paid for NIL, enrollment and roster position and lets schools and affiliated foundations pay unless federal law, a valid court order or a qualifying association rule limits it. Coverage of Memphis is uncertain: the part excludes a school "governed by the board of regents of the state university and community college system", and since 2016 the law lists the University of Memphis among the "board of regents state universities" while vesting its "management and governance" in its own state university board (Public Chapter 869 of 2016, T.C.A. 49-8-101(a)(2)). No court ruling or state statement on the point was found | /nil/college/tennessee |
What is specific to Memphis
Memphis built its NIL program around outside partners. It has worked with Altius Sports Partners since September 2023, and in 2024 an Altius-trained in-house general manager was named to oversee MaximUM, its NIL program, along with an athlete marketing manager, Camie Cole, whom the staff directory now lists as Assistant Athletic Director, Name, Image & Likeness. Memphis says it was among the first 10 schools "to invest in a dedicated Director of NIL position". Campus partners include the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship, and in February 2025 Memphis and Altius held an inaugural NIL Summit on contracts and branding for 40 athletes. FedEx, headquartered in Memphis, said in 2024 it was reallocating marketing funds to an NIL program for Memphis athletes; in August 2025 Memphis said that arrangement had become a sponsorship, and from 2026-27 a FedEx patch appears on the uniforms of all 19 Memphis teams. Its July 2026 Learfield renewal adds two NIL-dedicated staff members.
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 Memphis
Does Memphis pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists Memphis as participating in 2026-27 revenue sharing, with a cap of approximately $21.58 million per school, and Tennessee law allows schools and affiliated foundations to pay. Memphis has not published its total or how it divides the money on its athletics site.
How do Memphis athletes report NIL deals?
Memphis' NIL FAQ says athletes disclose all compensated NIL activities through Opendorse, with the agreement, the payer, the amount and the timing. Third-party deals of $600 or more also go to NIL Go within five business days under NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2.
What NIL collective works with Memphis?
Memphis named Bluff City Collective one of its official NIL collectives in December 2023, alongside the 901 Fund; the collective said it exists to support men's basketball. On 2026-10-23 the Bluff City Collective address showed no collective content, and the 901 Fund's site said support for Memphis athletes is now directed through the Memphis Athletics Fund. Memphis has not published a newer list of collectives.
What is the FedEx NIL program at Memphis?
FedEx announced on 2024-04-19 that it would invest $5 million a year for five years in Memphis athletes who promote FedEx initiatives, starting with football, men's and women's basketball and other women's sports, with Altius Sports Partners. On 2025-08-20 Memphis said the "previous" NIL arrangement had been transitioned into a sponsorship agreement, and in April 2026 it said FedEx will keep featuring its athletes in marketing as part of its NIL support.
What can't Memphis athletes endorse?
Memphis' FAQ lists gambling and sports wagering, alcohol, NCAA-banned and controlled substances, marijuana, tobacco and nicotine products, adult entertainment, and products inconsistent with the university's values. Tennessee law separately bars gambling, tobacco, THC products, alcohol and adult entertainment.
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