Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, its conference, the state of Minnesota 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 Minnesota
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Gopher Athletics links the "University of Minnesota Name, Image & Likeness Policy" dated 2025-11-04 (effective 2025-11-01) from its NIL page. It says the rules prohibiting "pay for play" (receiving payments solely for being a Student-Athlete) remain in effect and that compensation "cannot be based on athletic performance"; athletes must get approval to miss practice, competition, travel or team obligations for NIL, may wear only university-issued or approved gear during required activities, and "will maintain independent authority over all NIL opportunities facilitated by the University of Minnesota"; violations fall under the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct. The 2026-2027 Student-Athlete Handbook (posted 2026-07-08) lists four "current NIL guidelines", the first being "Direct institutional pay for NIL is prohibited" and the fourth "Athletics coaches and staff cannot represent or negotiate NIL deals on behalf of a student-athlete". Older versions (2021 interim policy, policy of 2024-08-01) remain posted | University of Minnesota NIL Policy (2025-11-04); Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| 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). The 2025-11-04 policy says athletes "must report third-party Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals with a total value of six hundred dollars ($600) or more in the aggregate to comply with CSC rules", that "It is recommended that the deal get approved prior to receiving any compensation", and that the athlete is responsible for accurate submissions and CSC follow-up requests. The 2026-27 handbook says that "Prior to engaging in an NIL entity" the athlete is required to disclose the activity to the compliance office through the INFLCR app | UMN NIL Policy § III; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | The 2025-11-04 policy bars NIL pay for commercial activity in adult entertainment products or services, sports gambling, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, NCAA banned substances, and weapons (for example, firearms). Minnesota has no state statute listing categories | UMN NIL Policy § I.1 |
| School marks and group licensing | The policy bars using the university's name, logos (including the "block M") or trademarks commercially unless the rights are secured by agreement with the appropriate university office, and bars using university-created photos, video or written material without advance permission. It also bars activity that would interfere with a university contract, naming the Nike sideline agreement. Gopher Athletics' NIL page says companies may work through Gopher Sports Properties, "the official rights holder", to use university marks, and links an NIL Gear section of the official fan shop | UMN NIL Policy §§ I.4, I.5; Gopher Athletics, NIL page |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities as a participating school. Minnesota's own documents refer to an "institutional licensing agreement" (NIL policy) and an "NIL License Agreement" (hearing form): the department may end the agreement for listed reasons, including entering the transfer portal or leaving the team, and the 2026-27 handbook says "A student-athlete can waive their right to enter the transfer portal in their NIL License Agreement". No amounts are published | College Sports Commission; UMN NIL Policy § II; Hearing Request, NIL License Agreement; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| Collective or NIL group | Dinkytown Athletes. Gopher Athletics and Learfield's Gopher Sports Properties named it the "Official NIL Collective of Gopher Athletics" on 2023-04-21, giving it access to official university marks, logos and images, and under a partnership effective 2024-11-01 contributions to it earned Gopher Score priority points from the Golden Gopher Fund for the 2024-25 giving year (to 2025-10-31). The NIL page linked Dinkytown Athletes on 2026-10-21, and its FAQ says university and athletics staff "are prohibited from financially contributing to or working for a collective". The NIL page also links the INFLCR-powered Golden Gophers Exchange | Gopher Athletics releases (2023-04-21, 2024-10-31); NIL page |
| Agents and representation | The 2025-11-04 policy has no section on agents. Gopher Athletics' NIL page lists an NIL Legal Clinic with a contact and intake form, and the NIL License Agreement hearing procedure lets the athlete be represented by an attorney. The 2026-2027 handbook's amateurism summary still says "Student-athletes or their parents may not" "Agree (orally or in writing) to be represented by a sports agent" or accept benefits from an agent. State law: athlete agents, including for endorsement contracts, register with the Minnesota commissioner of commerce under chapter 81A, and the athlete may cancel within 14 days | Gopher Athletics, NIL page; Hearing Procedures, NIL License Agreement; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; Minn. Stat. ch. 81A |
| Compliance contact | Office of Athletic Compliance, 244 Bierman Field Athletic Building, 516 15th Ave. SE, Minneapolis; compliance@umn.edu. Executive Director Kevin Gomer, 612-624-5425. The NIL page lists Jeremiah Carter (jeremiah@umn.edu) under Administration and the Compliance Office for the NIL policy | Gopher Athletics, Compliance page and NIL page |
| State law | No statute. No Minnesota college NIL statute was found; the athlete agent act (Minn. Stat. ch. 81A) covers agents for endorsement deals | /nil/college/minnesota |
What is specific to Minnesota
Minnesota publishes what happens when its own payments to an athlete stop. Its compliance office's "Student-Athlete Hearings, NIL License Agreement" form (effective 2025-04-03) says the athletic department may terminate an athlete's NIL License Agreement on written notice if it finds, in its sole discretion, a breach, a criminal conviction or plea, entry into the transfer portal or departure from the team, a violation of the morals clause or of institution, conference or NCAA rules, conduct likely to tarnish the reputation of the institution, conference or NCAA, or a change of law. The athlete may then ask for a hearing, virtual or on written submissions, before a panel of the Faculty Athletics Representative, a member of a faculty athletics committee and a representative of the Office of the President, with a compliance staff member as non-voting chair, and may be represented by an attorney; the panel's decision "may not be appealed by the student-athlete". Gopher Athletics also lists an NIL Legal Clinic with an intake form on its NIL page. Minnesota's documents word school pay differently, and none says which controls: the policy dated 2025-11-04 lists "termination or suspension of payments under the institutional licensing agreement" among sanctions; the 2026-2027 handbook (posted 2026-07-08) lists "Direct institutional pay for NIL is prohibited" among its current NIL guidelines and, in its transfer section, says "A student-athlete can waive their right to enter the transfer portal in their NIL License Agreement".
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 Minnesota
Does Minnesota pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities as a participating school for 2026-27, when the revenue-sharing cap is approximately $21.58 million per school. Minnesota's NIL policy refers to "payments under the institutional licensing agreement", and its compliance office publishes a hearing process (effective 2025-04-03) for athletes whose NIL License Agreement is cancelled or whose payment is stopped. Its 2026-2027 Student-Athlete Handbook (posted 2026-07-08) lists among current NIL guidelines that "Direct institutional pay for NIL is prohibited". Minnesota publishes no amounts.
What happens if Minnesota cancels an athlete's NIL License Agreement?
Under the hearing procedure effective 2025-04-03, the compliance office sends a decision letter, and the athlete may ask for a hearing before a panel from outside the athletic department (the Faculty Athletics Representative, a faculty athletics committee member and a representative of the Office of the President), virtually or on written submissions, with the right to present witnesses and to be represented by an attorney. The panel's final decision may not be appealed by the athlete.
What NIL collective works with Minnesota?
Dinkytown Athletes, named the Official NIL Collective of Gopher Athletics on 2023-04-21 with access to official university marks and images. Under a partnership effective 2024-11-01, contributions to it earned Gopher Score priority points from the Golden Gopher Fund for the 2024-25 giving year.
How do Minnesota athletes report NIL deals?
Third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Minnesota's 2025-11-04 policy requires reporting such deals under College Sports Commission rules and recommends approval before any payment, and the 2026-27 handbook says activity is disclosed to the compliance office through the INFLCR app before engaging in it.
What NIL deals are banned at Minnesota?
Minnesota's policy bars NIL pay from adult entertainment, sports gambling, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, NCAA banned substances and weapons such as firearms, and bars deals that would interfere with a university contract such as its Nike sideline agreement.
Does Minnesota have a state NIL law?
No college NIL statute was found. Minnesota's athlete agent act, Minn. Stat. chapter 81A, requires agents who negotiate endorsement contracts to register with the commissioner of commerce, and gives the athlete 14 days to cancel an agency contract.
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