Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The University of New Mexico, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what The University of New Mexico, its conference, the state of New Mexico 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 New Mexico
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "UNM Policies & Procedures for NIL Activities in Which Student-Athletes are Compensated", posted on the athletics NIL Information page and repeated in the 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (updated 2026-08-06). It covers NIL Go reporting, product categories, time restrictions, facilities, trademarks, international athletes and UNM's own use of athletes' NIL | UNM Athletics, NIL Information page and 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook |
| How deals are disclosed | UNM's NIL page: any athlete with a third-party NIL deal of $600 or more reports it at NILGo.com "within five business days of execution of the NIL Contract or other agreement", and failure to do so "may lead to penalties, including the loss of our NCAA Eligibility". The 2026-27 handbook adds "or otherwise agreement to the contract or payment terms" and lists no separate UNM disclosure for smaller deals. NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 set the same rule. New Mexico's statute has no disclosure rule | UNM Athletics, NIL Information page and 2026-27 Handbook; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/new-mexico |
| Banned categories | New Mexico's statute lists none. UNM lists categories that "will not be approved for NIL activities based on NCAA Legislation": drugs or drug paraphernalia, tobacco products and/or usage, sports gambling and alcohol. Areas "not recommended": sexual conduct, imagery or inferences; profanity or inappropriate insensitive language; political and religious endorsement; and endorsements that conflict with exclusive UNM deals (Pepsi, Nike, etc.) | UNM Athletics, NIL Information page and 2026-27 Handbook; /nil/college/new-mexico |
| School marks and group licensing | Athletes "shall not use University of New Mexico facilities, athletic apparel, registered trademarks, products protected by copyright, or official logos or marks without the express written permission" of UNM (the handbook adds "or its designated licensing partner"); approval goes through UNM Compliance, and facility use needs a signed rental agreement. UNM partners with Athlete's Thread for athlete stores with UNM-branded merchandise. UNM's own promotional use of an athlete's NIL is opt-in by a form in compliance paperwork. A group licensing program is not published | UNM Athletics, NIL Information page and 2026-27 Handbook |
| Revenue sharing | The letter of 2025-06-09 from Fernando Lovo, then Vice President / Director of Athletics, says UNM made "the strategic decision to adopt this model" through its participation in the House settlement and that "Basketball will be a cornerstone of our revenue-sharing strategy", with a commitment to football as well. UNM's FAQ says some athletes would begin receiving revenue-share payments in July 2025, that funds come from existing and new revenue plus "targeted reductions in spending", that revenue-share access is "For revenue producing sports", and that funds are "at the discretion of the head coach". The College Sports Commission lists UNM for 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). UNM's staff directory now lists Ryan Berryman, named Vice President/Director of Athletics in March 2026; no newer UNM statement on revenue sharing was found | UNM Athletics, Lovo letter (2025-06-09), House Settlement FAQ and Ryan Berryman staff page; College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | UNM's FAQ calls 505 Sports Venture Foundation (505SVF) "the collective" that "has supported UNM Student Athletes since 2021" and says it "will no longer be the primary source of NIL support directly to our Lobo athletes" but remains a partner; businesses are pointed to "505SVF or the UNM Athletic Department". The FAQ says the Lobo Club, through its Lobo Alliance ("an initiative created to support Lobo Student athletes through revenue sharing"), "will take full responsibility for all fundraising efforts related to NIL and future revenue sharing", and the 2025-06-09 letter dates that from 2025-07-01. No UNM source after 2025 describes 505SVF's role. Third-party marketplaces: Teamworks Influencer and NOCAP | UNM Athletics, House Settlement FAQ, Lovo letter (2025-06-09) and NIL Information page |
| Agents and representation | UNM's NIL page says agents seeking to represent a UNM athlete as an NIL agent "must be registered with the State of New Mexico" under the Uniform Athlete Agents Act, and links the Secretary of State application. The 2026-27 handbook says athletes speak with compliance staff before meeting with or accepting anything from an agent or advisor, to confirm the agent "is registered with the State of New Mexico as well as with UNM". New Mexico's statute bars schools from interfering with representation; agents register with the Secretary of State ($250, two years) | UNM Athletics, NIL Information page and 2026-27 Handbook; /nil/college/new-mexico |
| Compliance contact | UNM Athletics Compliance Office, New Mexico Athletics, MSC 11 6340, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001; (505) 925-5835, abeggin@unm.edu (Compliance page) | UNM Athletics, Compliance |
| State law | New Mexico's Student Athlete Endorsement Act (NMSA 1978, §§ 21-31-1 to 21-31-4) bars schools from penalizing athletes for third-party NIL pay and protects grants-in-aid, with no disclosure rule and no records exemption; in force | /nil/college/new-mexico |
What is specific to New Mexico
UNM moved NIL fundraising from its outside collective to the athletics department's Lobo Club as revenue sharing began. UNM's 2025 FAQ says the 505 Sports Venture Foundation, which had supported its athletes since 2021, "will no longer be the primary source of NIL support", and the athletic director's 2025-06-09 letter says the Lobo Club's Lobo Alliance would take over NIL fundraising from 2025-07-01, with gifts tax-deductible and, "Based on tax counsel advice", not designated to a particular athlete. UNM's FAQ is candid that "revenue sharing is not new revenue for Lobo Athletics" and will be covered partly by spending cuts, and that revenue-share access is for revenue-producing sports, with basketball named as the cornerstone. UNM's NIL page also says how the school uses an athlete's own NIL: athletes opt in by signing a form, and "If you choose not to sign, UNM will not use your NIL to promote UNM Athletics."
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 New Mexico
Does New Mexico pay its athletes?
Through revenue sharing, per UNM's 2025 statements. Its FAQ says some athletes would begin receiving revenue-share payments in July 2025, for revenue-producing sports, at each head coach's discretion, and then athletic director Fernando Lovo's 2025-06-09 letter names basketball as the cornerstone. The College Sports Commission lists UNM for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school.
What NIL collective works with UNM athletes?
UNM's 2025 FAQ calls the 505 Sports Venture Foundation "the collective" that has supported UNM athletes since 2021, and says it remains a partner but will no longer be the primary source of NIL support. From 2025-07-01 the Lobo Club's Lobo Alliance was to take full responsibility for NIL and revenue-share fundraising. No newer UNM source describes 505SVF's role.
How do Lobo athletes report NIL deals?
Third-party deals of $600 or more are reported at NILGo.com within five business days of signing or agreeing to terms, per UNM's NIL page and the NCAA bylaws. UNM's published rules list no separate school disclosure for smaller deals.
What NIL deals will UNM not approve?
UNM lists drugs or drug paraphernalia, tobacco, sports gambling and alcohol as categories it will not approve, and calls sexual content, profanity, political and religious endorsements and deals conflicting with UNM sponsors such as Pepsi and Nike "not recommended".
Does an NIL agent need to register to represent a UNM athlete?
UNM's NIL page says an NIL agent for a UNM athlete must be registered with the State of New Mexico under the Uniform Athlete Agents Act, and its handbook also refers to registration with UNM.
Be your own agent. Leave.
