Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rice University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Rice University, its conference, the state of Texas 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 Rice
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Athletic Department Name, Image and Likeness Policy" (two PDFs dated 2021-07-01 and 2021-07-06; the later one, which the policy web page links, adds "NCAA banned substances" to the endorsement ban) and the matching web page, with an FAQ for Student-Athletes and an FAQ for Fans/Boosters (2021). It says Rice "may not restrict" NIL pay outside official team activities or NIL representation, and that Rice "may not provide or solicit a prospective student-athlete with compensation" for NIL. The 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (updated May 2026) has a short NIL paragraph: payment "must not be contingent on athletic success" and an athlete "must follow all Texas and NCAA legislation" | Rice Athletics, NIL Policy (2021) and Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| How deals are disclosed | Policy: "Prior to entering an agreement for the use of their name, image or likeness, Rice student-athletes must disclose the proposed contract or opportunity through the ARMS compliance software via the NIL Disclosure form"; approvals or denials within five business days; "Opportunities that exceed $5,000 shall require the additional approval of the Director of Athletics"; conflicts resolved within 10 days. Handbook 2026-27: "Any student-athlete who wishes to partake in NIL must submit a disclosure on ARMS or Opendorse." Texas law: disclosure of each proposed contract before signing (§ 51.9246(g)(1)). NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2) | Rice Athletics, NIL Policy (2021) and Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; /nil/college/texas; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | Texas law bars pay for athletic performance and for endorsing alcohol, tobacco products, e-cigarettes or other nicotine delivery devices, anabolic steroids, sports betting, casino gambling, a firearm the athlete cannot legally buy, or a sexually oriented business (§ 51.9246(g)(2)(B)). Rice's policy (web page and 2021-07-06 PDF): "Endorsement of alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco products (including e-cigarettes), anabolic steroids, NCAA banned substances, gambling, firearms or sexually oriented businesses are strictly prohibited" | Rice Athletics, NIL Policy (2021); /nil/college/texas |
| School marks and group licensing | Rice's policy: "property owned by Rice University, including intellectual property, logos and symbols, may not be used in conjunction with a student-athlete's name, image and likeness opportunity." Texas law lets a school permit its marks only under its licensing requirements and at market rates (§ 51.9246(g)(5), (g-2)). A group licensing program is not described on the pages reviewed | Rice Athletics, NIL Policy (2021); /nil/college/texas |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists Rice University as participating in 2026-27. Rice Athletics' 2025-06-07 statement on the House settlement says universities "are now permitted to provide additional financial support to student-athletes in the form of revenue-sharing and scholarship increases" and that "Rice University leadership has diligently planned and prepared for this transformative moment". Rice has not published a 2026-27 total or its division by sport | College Sports Commission; Rice Athletics, statement on House settlement (2025-06-07) |
| Collective or NIL group | South Main Collective. Then Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland's 2024-08-02 letter says it "is the official NIL collective of Rice Athletics", is "Founded and operated by four former Rice letterwinners", and "is an independent organization that unifies three existing collectives (The Brotherhood, Rice Fight Collective and Owl's Nest Collective)". Rice's 2025-06-11 release makes its NIL general manager the liaison between Rice's third-party partners and the South Main Collective. Separately, Rice Athletics' 2025-06-02 release launched the South Main Fund, a tax-deductible donor fund that "will specifically support name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities and direct support for student-athletes", run in coordination with the Owl Club, and said the South Main Collective "will continue to operate". The collective's site loaded on 2026-10-23 as a script-only page with no readable text | Rice Athletics, South Main Collective letter (2024-08-02), South Main Fund release (2025-06-02) and NIL general manager release (2025-06-11) |
| Agents and representation | Rice's policy says Rice may not restrict athletes "from obtaining professional representation to secure name, image and likeness opportunities". The handbook's Sports Agents section says athlete agents interested in representing a Rice athlete "are required to register with the State of Texas pursuant to the Texas Athlete Agents Act" and "are asked to register" with the Rice Department of Athletics; written materials may be sent "ONLY if the Compliance Office is provided with a copy" and the agent is registered with Texas and Rice; and interviews are arranged through the Compliance Office in a period Rice designates. Texas law bars a school from preventing NIL representation, including by a Texas-licensed attorney (§ 51.9246(c)(2)) | Rice Athletics, NIL Policy (2021) and Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; /nil/college/texas |
| Compliance contact | Rice Athletics Compliance Services; Vincent C. Armetta, Associate Athletic Director of Compliance, varmetta@rice.edu; for NIL, Tasha Moser, Associate AD for Name, Image and Likeness and General Manager, tasha.moser@rice.edu | Rice Athletics, Staff Directory |
| State law | In force. Texas Education Code § 51.9246 covers athletes at private colleges such as Rice as well as public ones: disclosure of each proposed contract before signing, banned categories, a 10-day window to resolve conflicts and limits on school marks; since HB 126 (2025-06-05) it no longer bars pay from the school. Its confidentiality rule is written as a Public Information Act exception | /nil/college/texas |
What is specific to Rice
Rice describes itself as careful about NIL and then built a full unit for it. McClelland's 2024 letter said "we have been very thoughtful and measured with our approach to NIL" before announcing that three existing collectives, The Brotherhood, Rice Fight Collective and Owl's Nest Collective, had merged into the South Main Collective, run by four former Rice letterwinners. In June 2025 Rice hired Tasha Moser, a 2000 Olympic gymnast and former co-chair of a Houston law firm's NIL practice, as Associate AD for NIL and General Manager, to lead NIL, work with head coaches on roster management and serve as the liaison between Rice's third-party partners and the collective. On 2025-06-02 Rice had launched the South Main Fund, a donor fund for NIL opportunities and direct support for athletes, alongside the collective. On 2026-08-05 President DesRoches announced that McClelland was leaving for Purdue and that Deputy Athletic Director Eric George would serve as interim director of athletics. On 2026-09-02 Rice said it will sunset the SOAR name and bring athlete development under the R Association, whose R Edge program the 2026-27 handbook describes.
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 Rice
Does Rice pay its athletes?
Rice is listed by the College Sports Commission as participating in 2026-27 revenue sharing, with a cap of approximately $21.58 million per school, and Rice said in June 2025 that its leadership had planned for revenue-sharing and scholarship increases. Rice has not published how much it shares or how it divides the money.
How do Rice athletes report NIL deals?
Rice's policy has athletes disclose a proposed deal on the ARMS NIL Disclosure form before signing, with a decision in five business days and athletics director approval above $5,000; the 2026-27 handbook names ARMS or Opendorse. 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 NIL collective works with Rice?
The South Main Collective, which Rice calls its official NIL collective. Rice says it is independent, run by four former Rice letterwinners, and formed in 2024 from The Brotherhood, Rice Fight Collective and Owl's Nest Collective. In June 2025 Rice Athletics also launched the South Main Fund, a donor fund that supports NIL opportunities and direct support for athletes; Rice said the collective continues to operate.
Does Texas NIL law apply to Rice as a private school?
Yes. Texas Education Code § 51.9246 covers athletes at private colleges, so its disclosure-before-signing rule, banned categories and 10-day conflict window apply at Rice.
Who runs NIL at Rice?
Tasha Moser, Associate AD for Name, Image and Likeness and General Manager since June 2025, is described by Rice as the primary resource on the NIL process and the liaison between Rice Athletics' third-party partners and the South Main Collective; compliance is led by Associate Athletic Director of Compliance Vincent C. Armetta.
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