Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Murray State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Murray State University, its conference, the state of Kentucky 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 Murray State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Board of Regents policy 5.21, "Name, Image and Likeness Policy", adopted 2022-12-02. It says Murray State "is required by state law to review NIL agreements for compliance with University requirements and Kentucky Revised Statute 164.6947". It defines NIL agreements, lists the state's banned categories and adds the university's own limits, and sets a three-business-day review by the General Counsel with an appeal. The athletics site's document library also still holds a two-page 2021 guideline, "MSU Athletics - Name, Image, Likeness" (posted 2021-11-05, undated on its face, not linked from the compliance page), written "Within the guidelines of the Executive Order issued by Governor Andy Beshear on June 24, 2021", with a signature line for athletes | Murray State University, Board of Regents Policy Manual, Section 5.21 (2022-12-02); Murray State Athletics, 2021 NIL guideline |
| How deals are disclosed | Policy 5.21: "Student-athletes are required to submit NIL agreements or offers to the Murray State University General Counsel or designee for review"; within three business days the General Counsel sends a written or electronic determination to Athletics, copied to the athlete, naming any conflicts; after conflicts are resolved the athlete may resubmit; an appeal goes to a committee of the President, the Director of Athletics and the athletics Compliance Officer, which decides within thirty days. The 2021 guideline says to enter details in INFLCR "a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the NIL activity". NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Kentucky law gives the school up to three business days to review | Murray State, Policy 5.21 and 2021 guideline; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/kentucky |
| Banned categories | Kentucky law, repeated in policy 5.21: sports betting, any controlled substance, any substance banned by the NCAA or the conference, adult entertainment, and products or services illegal for the athlete. Policy 5.21 adds agreements that would make an athlete miss an official team activity, use university marks without the Director of Athletics' permission, stop the athlete from team activities or from "abiding by University contractual commitments" such as obligations to wear sponsor logos, or "reasonably be considered to conflict with the mission of Murray State University". The 2021 guideline also lists alcohol, tobacco, firearms, "legal drug dispensaries" and categories where the university has a partnership (apparel, soft drinks) | Murray State, Policy 5.21 and 2021 guideline; /nil/college/kentucky |
| School marks and group licensing | Policy 5.21 bars NIL agreements that "Utilize or publish any University marks, logos or other intellectual property without permission from the University's Director of Athletics". The 2021 guideline says use of Murray State intellectual property "is restricted to promotional purposes only" and rules out a for-profit venture. A "Shop Brandr" link in the athletics site's menu opens the "Murray State University NIL Store" on Athletes Thread, which says "OFFICIALLY LICENSED MERCHANDISE". A group licensing program is not published | Murray State, Policy 5.21 and 2021 guideline; Athletes Thread, Murray State NIL Store |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists Murray State University as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). Murray State's 2025-06-12 update says oversight "will be managed through CAPS (Cap Management System), led by LBI". The Vision For Excellence Fund (announced 2025-06-13) is "the primary vehicle for revenue share and other competitive initiatives"; gifts are tax-deductible and earn five Racer Club priority points per $100. Director of Athletics Nico Yantko's letter of 2026-09-04 says front office operations now focus on "revenue share distribution, contract management, NIL execution, athlete brand building, data analytics, and roster construction". No total or split by sport is published | Murray State Athletics, House Settlement Update (2025-06-12), Vision For Excellence Fund page and release (2025-06-13), From The Stables (2026-09-04); College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | Blue & Gold Standard. Murray State's release of 2023-10-13 says it "is not directly affiliated with Murray State Athletics", is a 501(c)(3) and "the official collective of Murray State Athletics", and that contributions are not tax-deductible; a 2024-09-17 release calls it "the sole NIL collective partner of Racer Athletics" supporting all 15 sport programs and gives donors one priority point per $100. The 2025-06-12 update says Murray State is "partnering with the Blue & Gold Standard to help our student-athletes navigate" NIL Go. Its own site says it is "not affiliated with Murray State University" but "endorsed as the official NIL entity of Racer Athletics" | Murray State Athletics releases (2023-10-13, 2024-09-17, 2025-06-12); Blue & Gold Standard website |
| Agents and representation | The 2021 guideline lets an athlete use a representative or agent "only specific to NIL and without assumption of an agreement for professional sports services". Kentucky law: a school may not bar an athlete from having an agent; an agreement to negotiate or solicit an NIL agreement is an "agency contract"; agents register with the state for two years, both agent and athlete notify the athletic director within 72 hours or before the next athletic event, and the athlete may cancel within 14 days | Murray State, 2021 guideline; /nil/college/kentucky |
| Compliance contact | Murray State Athletics Compliance Office. Haley Townsend, Assistant AD for Compliance and Interim Senior Woman Administrator, (270) 809-6016, htownsend5@murraystate.edu. NIL agreements under policy 5.21 go to the Murray State University General Counsel | Murray State Athletics, Staff Directory and Compliance page (read 2026-10-23); Policy 5.21 |
| State law | In force. Kentucky's KRS 164.6941 to 164.6951 (SB 6, 2022; rewritten by SB 3, 2025) reach public and private Kentucky colleges: the school reviews proposed third-party deals within three business days, sports betting, controlled substances and adult entertainment deals are barred, and since 2025-03-13 a school or its affiliated corporation may pay athletes under written institutional agreements | /nil/college/kentucky |
What is specific to Murray State
Murray State is building a business arm for its athletics department. On 2026-09-18 the Board of Regents approved the university "moving forward with the creation of new auxiliary enterprises", and Murray State Athletics announced the formation of Racer Sports & Entertainment, LLC, "a University-affiliated auxiliary enterprise". Its page says the enterprise "will also build Murray State Athletics' Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) infrastructure to support student-athlete entrepreneurial development" and describes it as "building the engine needed to fund revenue sharing, NIL opportunities, coaching retention, and facility upgrades", along with oversight of a planned Racer Entertainment Village; governance details were to be announced "in the coming months". That sits beside an unusual review path for athletes' own deals: under Regents policy 5.21 it is the university's General Counsel, not the athletics department, that reviews NIL agreements within three business days, and an athlete who disagrees can appeal to a committee that includes the university president.
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 Murray State
Does Murray State pay its athletes?
Murray State said on 2025-06-12 that it would take part in revenue sharing from the 2025-26 academic year, and the College Sports Commission lists it for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. Its Vision For Excellence Fund is described as the primary vehicle for revenue share. Murray State has not published how much it pays or how the money is divided among sports.
What NIL collective works with Murray State?
The Blue & Gold Standard, a 501(c)(3) that Murray State Athletics endorsed in 2023 as its official collective and in 2024 called its sole NIL collective partner, supporting all 15 sports. Both Murray State Murray State said in 2023 that it "is not directly affiliated with Murray State Athletics", the collective's site says it is not affiliated with Murray State University, and both say contributions are not tax-deductible.
How do Murray State Racers report NIL deals?
Regents policy 5.21 has athletes submit NIL agreements or offers to the university's General Counsel, who reviews them within three business days and can be appealed to a committee. 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 is Racer Sports & Entertainment?
A Murray State "University-affiliated auxiliary enterprise", an LLC formed after the Board of Regents approved new auxiliary enterprises on 2026-09-18. Murray State says it will build its NIL infrastructure and describes it as "building the engine needed to fund revenue sharing, NIL opportunities, coaching retention, and facility upgrades". Governance details had not been published by 2026-10-23.
Which NIL deals are banned for Murray State athletes?
Kentucky law bars deals for sports betting, controlled substances, substances the NCAA or conference bans, adult entertainment and products illegal for the athlete. Policy 5.21 adds deals that conflict with team activities, university sponsorship obligations or the university's mission, or that use university marks without the Director of Athletics' permission.
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