Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Middle Tennessee State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Middle Tennessee State University, 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 Middle Tennessee
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | MTSU's 2023-24 Student-Athlete Handbook carries a "Name, Image, and Likeness Policy for Student-Athletes", described as "a working policy in a rapidly evolving area". It allows pay "commensurate with fair market value" for work actually performed, never for athletic performance or attendance, and says "MTSU, or an officer, director or employee of the institution shall not compensate current or prospective student-athletes for use of their NIL". No newer handbook is posted on the athletics site. The athletics NIL Information page still opens with the NCAA's 2021 interim policy | MTSU Athletics, 2023-24 Student-Athlete Handbook and NIL Information page |
| How deals are disclosed | NIL Information page: athletes "are required to disclose each compensated NIL activity through INFLCR". The 2023-24 handbook policy, citing Tennessee House Bill 1351, says athletes "must disclose any NIL activities at least ten (10) business days prior to entering into an agreement", with a description, the parties, who pays, the value and a copy of any proposed written agreement, plus an annual report; MTSU then flags conflicts with its own agreements. NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Since 2025 Tennessee law says disclosure "may be required" and sets no deadline | MTSU Athletics, NIL Information page and 2023-24 Handbook; 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 (T.C.A. 49-7-2802(g)). MTSU's NIL page bars NIL activities that "promote gambling, tobacco, alcohol or adult entertainment" and those "reasonably considered to be in conflict with MTSU values"; the handbook adds "banned substances" and bars deals that "conflict with or unreasonably compete with" an organization MTSU Athletics has an agreement with. MTSU extended its Nike and BSN SPORTS apparel agreement in March 2026 | /nil/college/tennessee; MTSU Athletics, NIL Information page, 2023-24 Handbook and Nike extension release (2026-03-23) |
| School marks and group licensing | Handbook: athletes "may not use the University name, trademarks, service marks, logos, symbols, or any other intellectual property" without "appropriate licensing approval", and facilities only under a rental agreement at the same rates as other students. MTSU Policy 152 (2017) has commercial uses of its marks approved by the Athletics Marketing Office and produced by a licensed vendor. The MTSU NIL Store by Campus Ink (2024) sells athlete merchandise that the Campus Ink release posted on MTSU's athletics site calls "officially licensed". A group licensing program is not published | MTSU Athletics, 2023-24 Handbook and NIL Store release (2024-08-15); MTSU Policy 152 |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists Middle Tennessee State University (Conference USA) as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). No MTSU statement on how it funds or divides revenue sharing was found on its athletics site. Tennessee law lets a school and its affiliated foundations pay athletes unless federal law, a court order or a qualifying association rule limits it; whether that part covers MTSU is not settled (see State law) | College Sports Commission; /nil/college/tennessee |
| Collective or NIL group | Raiders Rising. MTSU Athletics releases call it "the official NIL collective of MTSU Athletics" (2024-11-14) and "the official collective supporting NIL activities for MTSU student-athletes" (2025-03-27); it was "established in early 2024", founded by MTSU alumni and former athletes, and its 2024 kickoff release says it serves athletes from all 17 varsity teams. Since 2024-11-14 contributions to Raiders Rising earn BRAA priority points at 3 points per $100. Its own site calls it "The official Collective of the MTSU Blue Raiders" (read 2026-10-23) | MTSU Athletics releases (2024-03-12, 2024-11-14, 2025-03-27); Raiders Rising site |
| Agents and representation | MTSU: athletes may use athlete agents, marketing agents, tax and legal advisors at their own cost; "Any third-party representative must be a fiduciary"; NIL athlete agents "must be licensed in the state of Tennessee"; attorneys must be in good standing; parents, siblings, grandparents, spouses and guardians are not agents; representation and NIL contracts "cannot be in effect any longer than" the athlete's participation at MTSU. Tennessee law: agents register with the Secretary of State under the Revised Uniform Athlete Agents Act | MTSU Athletics, NIL Information page and 2023-24 Handbook; /nil/college/tennessee |
| Compliance contact | MTSU Athletic Compliance Office. Daryl Simpson, Associate AD/Compliance and Operations, daryl.simpson@mtsu.edu, named on the NIL page for general NIL questions and facility requests | MTSU Athletics, NIL Information page and Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | In force. Tennessee's Part 28 (T.C.A. 49-7-2801 to 2804), rewritten by Public Chapter 300 of 2025, lets a four-year school and its affiliated foundations pay athletes for NIL, enrollment and roster spots unless federal law, a valid court order or a qualifying association rule limits it, and keeps NIL records confidential until 2032. Coverage of MTSU 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 vests MTSU's "management and governance" in its own board of trustees while still listing it among the "board of regents state universities" (Public Chapter 869 of 2016, T.C.A. 49-8-101(a)(2)). No court ruling or state statement on the point was found; MTSU's 2023-24 policy cites the 2021 statute | /nil/college/tennessee; Public Chapter 869 of 2016 |
What is specific to Middle Tennessee
MTSU has built its NIL support from a string of fan-facing platforms announced on its athletics site: a FanJolt app for paid fan interactions (2022), an INFLCR exchange, an NIL Headquarters powered by FanWord that gives every athlete a profile page (2023), and the MTSU NIL Store by Campus Ink (2024). Its collective, Raiders Rising, was founded by alumni and former athletes and launched with a paid spring football practice in March 2024. MTSU then tied the collective to its donor system: since November 2024 NIL contributions earn Blue Raider Athletic Association priority points, used for season ticket upgrades, premium seating and postseason tickets, at 3 points per $100. The athlete-facing written policy is still the one in the 2023-24 handbook, which keeps a ten-business-day disclosure rule drawn from the 2021 Tennessee statute.
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 Middle Tennessee
Does Middle Tennessee pay its athletes?
MTSU is on the College Sports Commission's list of schools sharing revenue in 2026-27, and the Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at about $21.58 million per school. MTSU has not published how much it shares or how it divides the money. Its 2023-24 handbook policy, written before revenue sharing, said MTSU and its employees would not pay athletes for NIL.
What NIL collective works with MTSU?
Raiders Rising. MTSU Athletics calls it the official NIL collective of MTSU Athletics; it was founded in early 2024 by MTSU alumni and former athletes, and fans who give to it earn Blue Raider Athletic Association priority points.
How do Blue Raider athletes report NIL deals?
MTSU's NIL page says each compensated NIL activity is disclosed through INFLCR, and its 2023-24 handbook policy says athletes must disclose NIL activities at least ten business days before entering an agreement. Third-party deals of $600 or more also go to NIL Go within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2).
Can MTSU athletes use an agent for NIL deals?
Yes. MTSU's policy allows athlete agents, marketing agents and lawyers; every representative must be a fiduciary, NIL athlete agents must be licensed in Tennessee, and family members who represent an athlete are not treated as agents. A representation contract cannot last longer than the athlete's time in MTSU athletics.
What can't MTSU athletes promote?
MTSU's NIL page bars NIL activities that promote gambling, tobacco, alcohol or adult entertainment, or that conflict with MTSU values; Tennessee law also bars THC products. The handbook adds banned substances and deals that compete with MTSU Athletics' own sponsors, such as its Nike and BSN SPORTS partnership.
Be your own agent. Leave.
