Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ohio University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Ohio University, its conference, the state of Ohio 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 Ohio University
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Guidelines for Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Activities at Ohio University", linked as "NIL POLICY" from the compliance page. The document is undated; it cites Ohio Executive Order 2021-10D but also refers to the College Sports Commission and NIL Go, and its file was created 2026-04-07. It applies from full-time enrollment or the start of official practice, covers paid and unpaid NIL activity, bars NIL activity during official team activities, and bars NIL pay from Ohio University coaches, staff or employees and pay "for their athletic performance" | Ohio Athletics, NIL Guidelines (linked from Compliance 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 University's guidelines say athletes "must disclose all NIL Activities to OHIO University before the activity occurs" and submit all proposed verbal and written NIL agreements "via INFLCR before the NIL Activity occurs" for a conflict review, and separately "must also disclose any NIL Activities valued at $600 or more to the College Sports Commission (CSC), via the NIL Go Portal". A deal that conflicts with a university contract may be revised and resubmitted "before engaging in the NIL activity". Ohio law has the athlete disclose a proposed contract to the school before entering it (R.C. 3376.06(C)) | Ohio Athletics, NIL Guidelines; NCAA 2026-27 Division I Manual; R.C. 3376.06 |
| Banned categories | The guidelines bar NIL activity associated with "Alcohol & Distilled spirits"; marijuana "(including legalized or medical marijuana)"; medical marijuana cultivators, processors, labs or dispensaries; tobacco, vapor and ingestible nicotine products; "Casinos or entities that sponsor or promote gambling activities"; controlled substances; and adult entertainment businesses, and reserve the right to restrict similar categories communicated before enrollment. Ohio law lets a school bar these categories (R.C. 3376.07) | Ohio Athletics, NIL Guidelines; R.C. 3376.07 |
| School marks and group licensing | The guidelines say use of Ohio University trademarks, logos and other IP in NIL activity, including photos or videos showing them and apparel bearing them, "must be requested, and requires prior approval". Athletes may say they are Ohio University athletes but may not imply the university endorses the activity. NIL activity in university facilities needs express permission and payment of the rental rate. On 2022-05-25 Ohio Athletics announced a group licensing agreement with The Brandr Group covering all 16 sports, with voluntary participation, for co-branded merchandise using school marks | Ohio Athletics, NIL Guidelines; Brandr Group release (2022-05-25) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists Ohio University as a participating school for 2026-27. Ohio University's Stand Up for OHIO Football page says "Capital raised through the Ohio University Foundation can now be directed to student-athletes as part of revenue sharing and NIL rules", and that the initiative "is about far more than paying players". Ohio Athletics announced the initiative on 2026-05-29, listing "Expanded support through name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities and enhanced recruiting resources" among its three priorities. No revenue-sharing total or division by sport is published | College Sports Commission, Revenue Sharing and Participating Schools; Ohio University, Stand Up for OHIO Football; Ohio Athletics release (2026-05-29) |
| Collective or NIL group | Not published. Ohio University's athletics site names no collective. Its NIL marketplace is the Ohio NIL Exchange on INFLCR, launched 2022-05-24, where businesses can message athletes directly; the release says "INFLCR and Ohio University will not be involved in any of the negotiations". The guidelines name the Associate AD of Revenue Generation as a contact for athletes "interested in pursuing NIL-related opportunities" | Ohio Athletics, Ohio NIL Exchange release (2022-05-24); NIL Guidelines |
| Agents and representation | The guidelines let athletes "secure representation to assist with advice, contract representation, and marketing in connection with NIL Activities". The agent "must be registered under Ohio law unless the agent is the Student-Athlete's immediate family member", is paid the negotiated rate, and athletes "must disclose their engagement with an agent to OHIO University Compliance"; agents may not be used to secure or market a professional career. 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 Athletics, NIL Guidelines; R.C. Chapter 4771 |
| Compliance contact | Ohio Athletics Compliance Office. The staff directory read 2026-10-23 lists the Assistant AD of Compliance at 740-593-9800 and brookins@ohio.edu, the same number and address the compliance page gives for that staff member. On 2026-10-14 Ohio Athletics said Senior Associate AD Randee Duffy had taken on "additional oversight of athletic compliance" | Ohio Athletics, Staff Directory and Compliance page; executive team release (2026-10-14) |
| 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 University
Ohio University was early in the MAC on NIL infrastructure, by its own account, and now ties football fundraising to athlete pay. In May 2022 it became, in its own words, "INFLCR's first Mid-American Conference athletic department launch partner" with the Ohio NIL Exchange, and said it was "the first Mid-American Conference athletics department to have a group licensing agreement", through The Brandr Group, covering all 16 of its sports. Its current guidelines also say an athlete who hires an NIL agent "must disclose their engagement with an agent to OHIO University Compliance". The university's Stand Up for OHIO Football initiative, launched 2026-05-29 and run through the Ohio Bobcat Club, describes "a critical moment in the history of Ohio Football" given "new athlete compensation models" and lists Player Recruitment and Development as a funding priority whose gifts "will help us build a comprehensive NIL program".
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 University
Does Ohio University pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists Ohio University as a participating school in revenue sharing for 2026-27, when the cap is approximately $21.58 million per school, and the university's Stand Up for OHIO Football page says Ohio University Foundation money "can now be directed to student-athletes as part of revenue sharing and NIL rules". Ohio University has not published a total or how it divides the money.
What NIL collective works with Ohio University?
Ohio University has not named one on its athletics site. It points businesses to the Ohio NIL Exchange, an INFLCR marketplace launched in 2022, and its guidelines name the Associate AD of Revenue Generation as a contact for athletes interested in NIL opportunities.
How do Ohio Bobcats athletes report NIL deals?
Ohio University's guidelines require disclosing every NIL activity to the university before it happens, with the proposed agreement submitted through INFLCR, and reporting activities valued at $600 or more to the College Sports Commission through NIL Go, which NCAA Bylaw 22.2.2.2 sets at five business days.
Do Ohio University athletes have to tell compliance about an NIL agent?
Yes. The guidelines say athletes "must disclose their engagement with an agent to OHIO University Compliance", that the agent must be registered under Ohio law unless an immediate family member, and that agents may be used only for NIL, not for a professional career.
What NIL deals are banned at Ohio University?
Alcohol and distilled spirits, marijuana (including legalized or medical) and marijuana businesses, tobacco and nicotine or vapor products, casinos and gambling sponsors, controlled substances, and adult entertainment, plus similar categories the university communicates before enrollment.
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