Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Ohio State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what The Ohio State University, its conference, the state of Ohio 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 Ohio State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Ohio State publishes two versions of its "Student-Athlete Name, Image, Likeness Guidelines". The standalone document, last updated 2024-10-07 according to its footer and linked as "NIL Guidelines" from Ohio State's NIL page, applies from full-time enrollment or the start of official practice, covers paid and unpaid NIL activity, sets facility rental rules, bars NIL activity during official team activity unless staff review and approve it and during team travel outside designated free time, and lists sanctions from a reprimand to dismissal from the program. The 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (file posted 2026-10-06) reprints an undated version that names Opendorse for disclosure, bars NIL activity during required team activities including team travel, and says "No Ohio State coaches or staff may be involved in any way with your NIL Activities"; it adds "As NIL continues to change, please visit our website for more information" with a link to ohiostatebuckeyes.com/feature/nil | Ohio State Athletics, Student-Athlete NIL Guidelines (2024-10-07); Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; NIL page |
| 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); Ohio State's NIL page links NIL Go. The 2024-10-07 guidelines say an athlete paid for NIL activity submits the proposed agreement "through INFLCR or directly to Assistant AD for NIL", with what, when, where, who and the compensation, and also say "Per NCAA rules" agreements are disclosed "no later than 30-days after entering or signing". The version in the 2026-27 handbook says compensated NIL activity is disclosed "prior to the activity occurring to Ohio State through Opendorse". Both versions say Ohio State reviews the agreement for conflicts with its own contracts, and a conflicting deal may be revised and resubmitted. Ohio law separately has the athlete disclose a proposed NIL contract to the school's designated official before entering it (R.C. 3376.06(C)) | NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; Ohio State NIL Guidelines (2024-10-07); Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; R.C. 3376.06 |
| Banned categories | Both versions of Ohio State's guidelines bar NIL agreements with distilled spirits (hard liquor); tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, vapor products and nicotine products; casinos or any entity that sponsors or promotes gambling; controlled substances; "Marijuana (including legalized or medical) products"; medical marijuana cultivators, processors, labs or retail dispensaries; and adult entertainment businesses, and reserve the right to restrict similar categories if communicated before enrollment. Ohio law lets a school bar these categories (R.C. 3376.07). The guidelines also list sponsor conflicts, such as a deal requiring an athlete on campus to wear products competitive to Nike during team activities or to promote beverages competitive to Coca-Cola; the 2024 version lists more partners | Ohio State NIL Guidelines (2024-10-07); Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; R.C. 3376.07 |
| School marks and group licensing | Ohio State trademarks, logos, and photos or videos showing them may not be used in NIL activity without prior written approval from the Office of Trademark and Licensing Services, and merchandise with Ohio State marks must be made by university licensees. An athlete may say they are an Ohio State student-athlete and list their accolades. Ohio State's NIL and BSG pages say that through Learfield, its exclusive multimedia rights provider, athletes can do NIL deals with Ohio State corporate partners in which brands "leverage Ohio State marks and logos" and shoot content in Ohio State athletic facilities. The NIL page links a "Student Athlete Group Rights Licensing Program" sign-up, and the BSG page links bsgmerch.store for athlete merchandise | Ohio State NIL Guidelines (2024-10-07); Ohio State Athletics NIL and Buckeye Sports Group pages |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists Ohio State as a participating school. Ohio State's athletic director wrote on 2024-11-21 that Ohio State would be permitted to directly compensate athletes through NIL licensing agreements, "anticipated to be $20.5 million in 2025-26", that "This new allocation of our department's resources will increase annually by at least 4%", and that Ohio State was committed to keeping 36 sports "while also fully funding the $20.5 million dollars of direct payments"; the letter also announced 91 new scholarships. Ohio State publishes no per-sport or per-athlete breakdown | Ohio State Athletics, "An Open Letter to Buckeye Nation" (2024-11-21); College Sports Commission, Revenue Sharing and Participating Schools |
| Collective or NIL group | Buckeye Sports Group (BSG), announced 2025-06-09 by Ohio State Athletics and Learfield's Ohio State Sports Properties (OSSP), covers NIL deal facilitation and management, content creation and athlete support services. BSG's page calls it "a vertical under the OSSP umbrella" focused "exclusively on NIL deal facilitation". Ohio State says BSG "will also work to consolidate existing NIL collectives under a single marketing team" and that the founding members of THE Foundation and The 1870 Society "will remain engaged and serve in an advisory capacity". BSG's page was live on 2026-10-21 | Ohio State Athletics, BSG announcement (2025-06-09) and BSG page |
| Agents and representation | Both versions of Ohio State's guidelines say an NIL agent "needs to be registered under Ohio law unless it is an immediate family member" and is paid the agent's regular rate, and that hiring an agent to market athletic ability as a professional may jeopardize eligibility. The 2026-27 handbook says the agents who may write to athletes are those registered with the Ohio State Athletics Compliance Office and with the State of Ohio. Ohio law requires athlete agents to register with the Ohio athletic commission (R.C. 4771.06) and, since 2026-03-20, bars NIL agent contracts that run past eligibility (R.C. 4771.021) | Ohio State NIL Guidelines (2024-10-07); Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; R.C. Chapter 4771 |
| Compliance contact | Ohio State Athletic Compliance Office, 910 Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus; phone 614-292-2681 (2026-27 handbook) | Ohio State Athletics, Compliance; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| State law | Ohio's college NIL law, R.C. Chapter 3376, is in force. Ohio schools may pay athletes for NIL, athletes disclose a proposed deal to the school before entering it, and NIL contracts signed since 2026-03-20 may not run past eligibility or send disputes outside Ohio | /nil/college/ohio |
What is specific to Ohio State
Ohio State placed its NIL deal work inside its sponsorship business. Its BSG page calls Buckeye Sports Group "a vertical under the OSSP umbrella", OSSP being Learfield's Ohio State Sports Properties, the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Ohio State Athletics, and says OSSP "will remain focused on traditional corporate sponsorships" while BSG handles NIL deal facilitation. Ohio State says deals with its corporate partners through Learfield can use Ohio State marks and logos and be shot in Ohio State athletic facilities, and its BSG page reports more than 500 NIL deals with over 32 Ohio State teams across 74 corporate partners. On 2026-07-28 Ohio State announced JPMorganChase as its official bank sponsor and jersey patch partner, with new resources to support athletes through NIL opportunities. Ohio State also publishes two versions of its NIL guidelines that differ on disclosure (INFLCR or the Assistant AD for NIL in the 2024-10-07 document, Opendorse in the handbook version) and on staff involvement (staff "may provide assistance and services" in the 2024 document; "No Ohio State coaches or staff may be involved in any way" in the handbook version).
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 Ohio State
Does Ohio State pay its athletes?
Yes. Ohio State's athletic director wrote on 2024-11-21 that Ohio State would directly compensate athletes through NIL licensing agreements, anticipated at $20.5 million in 2025-26, that the allocation would increase at least 4% a year, and that Ohio State was committed to fully funding it. The College Sports Commission lists Ohio State as a participating school for 2026-27, when the cap is approximately $21.58 million per school. Ohio law also lets Ohio colleges pay athletes for NIL (R.C. 3376.09). Ohio State publishes no per-athlete amounts.
What is Buckeye Sports Group?
Buckeye Sports Group is an NIL unit announced 2025-06-09 by Ohio State Athletics and Learfield's Ohio State Sports Properties, which Ohio State's BSG page calls a vertical under the OSSP umbrella. Ohio State says it negotiates brand partnerships, creates athlete content, offers financial literacy and tax support, and will work to consolidate existing NIL collectives under a single marketing team, with the founding members of THE Foundation and The 1870 Society serving in an advisory capacity.
How do Ohio State athletes report NIL deals?
Third-party deals worth $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days of signing (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2), and Ohio State's NIL page links NIL Go. Ohio State's own guidelines also ask athletes to submit paid NIL agreements to the school: the 2024-10-07 document names INFLCR or the Assistant AD for NIL, while the version in the 2026-27 handbook names Opendorse and says disclosure comes before the activity. Ohio law has the athlete disclose a proposed contract to the school before entering it (R.C. 3376.06(C)).
Can Ohio State athletes use Ohio State logos in NIL deals?
Only with prior written approval from Ohio State's Office of Trademark and Licensing Services, according to Ohio State's NIL guidelines, and merchandise with Ohio State marks is made by university licensees. Ohio State says deals with its corporate partners arranged through Learfield can use Ohio State marks and logos and be shot in its athletic facilities. Without approval, an athlete may still say they play at Ohio State and list their accolades.
What NIL deals are banned at Ohio State?
Ohio State's guidelines bar deals with distilled spirits, tobacco and nicotine or vapor products, casinos and gambling sponsors, controlled substances, marijuana products (including legalized or medical), medical marijuana businesses and adult entertainment, and list conflicts with Ohio State sponsors, such as wearing products competitive to Nike during team activities. Ohio law (R.C. 3376.07) lets schools bar these categories.
Be your own agent. Leave.
