Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sam Houston State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Sam Houston State 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 Sam Houston
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Policies, Sam Houston State University Athletics", effective 2021-07-01, "reviewed and updated on October 24, 2024", written around Texas Senate Bill 1385 (2021). It says SHSU and its staff "cannot and will not" prevent NIL pay outside official team activities, cut aid for NIL pay, use NIL pay to induce enrollment, or "Provide compensation to a student-athlete in relation to the student-athlete's NIL activities". The 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (posted 2026-07-10) restates the main points | Sam Houston Athletics, NIL Policies (2024-10-24) and 2026-27 Handbook |
| How deals are disclosed | Policy: athletes "must submit the 'Name, Image, Likeness Approval' workflow in ARMS Software prior to accepting compensation for any NIL activity"; staff flag conflicts with an institutional contract or athletics policy, and the athlete resolves them "no later than the 10th day after the date of the disclosure". Handbook: deals "must be approved by the compliance office before being agreed upon", with the contract uploaded, and deals of $600 or more "must be reported to and cleared NILGO, prior to accepting payments". NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Texas law requires disclosure of a proposed contract to the school before signing | Sam Houston Athletics, NIL Policies (2024-10-24) and 2026-27 Handbook; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/texas |
| Banned categories | Texas law and Sam Houston's policy bar NIL pay for endorsing alcohol, tobacco products, e-cigarettes or other nicotine delivery devices, anabolic steroids, sports betting or casino gambling, a firearm the athlete cannot legally buy, or a sexually oriented business, and Texas law bars pay for athletic performance. The policy and the 2026-27 handbook, both citing SB 1385 (2021), also list pay "In exchange for athletic performance or attendance at SHSU" and pay "By SHSU or its staff members". Sam Houston may also bar deals that conflict with institutional contracts that have a "no-compete clause"; the list of those companies is given to athletes "upon request" | Sam Houston Athletics, NIL Policies (2024-10-24) and 2026-27 Handbook; /nil/college/texas |
| School marks and group licensing | Policy: Sam Houston will "Prohibit student-athletes from using its institutional facilities, uniforms, logos, and marks while engaging in NIL activities", and lists pay "For providing an endorsement while using intellectual property or other property owned by the institution" among the SB 1385 bans. Texas law since 2023 allows a school's facilities, uniforms, trademarks and logos to be used only with its express permission, paid at market rates. The 2026 Competitive Excellence Fund release describes gifts "earmarked directly for athlete compensation under the NIL/licensing provisions". A group licensing program is not published | Sam Houston Athletics, NIL Policies (2024-10-24) and Competitive Excellence Fund release (2026-01-15); /nil/college/texas |
| Revenue sharing | Sam Houston's release of 2026-01-15 announced the Competitive Excellence Fund, "a dedicated revenue-sharing initiative aligned with the landmark House v. NCAA settlement", structured as sport-specific funds (baseball, football, men's and women's basketball at launch) taking tax-deductible gifts, and said all funding and athlete support "adhere to university policies and NCAA rules". The College Sports Commission lists Sam Houston State University as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). No total or allocation is published | Sam Houston Athletics, Competitive Excellence Fund release (2026-01-15); College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | Not published. No collective is named on Sam Houston's athletics site; its site menu links a "Bearkat Competitive Excellence (NIL)" giving page | Sam Houston Athletics, Name, Image, Likeness page |
| Agents and representation | Policy: Sam Houston will not restrict professional representation for NIL, will "Require all agreements between its student-athletes and professional representatives to be submitted to SHSU athletic compliance prior to the agreements' execution", and bars agreements with athlete agents seeking professional athletics opportunities. Handbook: "You may sign with an NIL agent that does NOT represent a professional sports agency." Texas law: schools may not prevent representation, including by a Texas-licensed attorney; athlete agents register with the Secretary of State under Occupations Code chapter 2051 | Sam Houston Athletics, NIL Policies (2024-10-24), 2026-27 Handbook and Agents page; /nil/college/texas |
| Compliance contact | Sam Houston Athletics Compliance. Trevor Thorn, Associate Athletic Director, Certification and Compliance, (936) 294-2693, trevor@shsu.edu | Sam Houston Athletics, Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | In force. Texas Education Code 51.9246 requires disclosure of each proposed NIL contract to the school before signing, bans listed endorsement categories, keeps contract terms held by the school confidential, and since HB 126 (2025) yields to what an athletic association, conference or final court order authorizes | /nil/college/texas |
What is specific to Sam Houston
Sam Houston runs NIL approvals through ARMS, the compliance software it also uses for scholarship renewal letters, game tickets and other athlete forms, and its rule is approval first: the handbook says a deal is agreed only "Once approved by the compliance office", and payment waits until NIL Go clears deals of $600 or more. Its written NIL policy still follows the 2021 Texas bill: it lists the SB 1385 endorsement bans, limits NIL contracts to the athlete's time at Sam Houston, and requires five hours of life skills workshops in the first year. Revenue sharing came later and by sport. The Competitive Excellence Fund, launched with University Advancement in January 2026, opened with funds for baseball, football and men's and women's basketball, alongside a university plan to spend nearly $100 million on athletic facilities.
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 Sam Houston
Does Sam Houston pay its athletes?
Sam Houston shares revenue. Its Competitive Excellence Fund, launched 2026-01-15, is "a dedicated revenue-sharing initiative" funded by tax-deductible gifts to sport-specific funds, and the College Sports Commission lists Sam Houston for 2026-27 with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. Sam Houston has not published how much it pays.
How do Sam Houston athletes get NIL deals approved?
Through the Name, Image and Likeness Approval workflow in ARMS. The 2026-27 handbook says deals are approved by compliance before being agreed to, and deals of $600 or more are reported to and cleared by NIL Go before payment (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2).
Can Sam Houston athletes wear their uniform in an NIL ad?
Sam Houston's NIL policy says it will prohibit athletes from using its facilities, uniforms, logos and marks in NIL activities. Texas law allows a school's uniforms, trademarks and logos in NIL activities only with the school's express permission, paid at market rates.
Can Bearkats athletes have an NIL agent?
Yes, for NIL only. The handbook allows an NIL agent "that does NOT represent a professional sports agency", and the policy has agreements with professional representatives submitted to compliance before they are executed. Texas registers athlete agents with the Secretary of State under Occupations Code chapter 2051, which is written around professional sports contracts.
What NIL deals are banned for Sam Houston athletes?
Texas law and Sam Houston's policy bar endorsements of alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, anabolic steroids, sports betting or casino gambling, a firearm the athlete cannot legally buy, and sexually oriented businesses, plus deals that conflict with Sam Houston's no-compete sponsor contracts.
Be your own agent. Leave.
