Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by San Diego State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what San Diego State University, its conference, the state of California and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 22, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at San Diego State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | San Diego State Athletics NIL Policy, marked "Updated 8-1-2024" and "subject to modification". It says NIL "is NOT pay-for-play", that compensation "may not be conditioned on athletic performance or attendance at SDSU", that athletes may not do NIL during official team activities without prior consent, and that athletes "are NOT permitted to enter a contract if a provision is in conflict with a provision of an SDSU Athletics contract" | San Diego State Athletics, NIL Policy (updated 2024-08-01) |
| How deals are disclosed | NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more are reported to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). SDSU's policy says agreements "valued over $600 total should be disclosed using NIL Go", encourages disclosure of all NIL activity "regardless of value, using the INFLCR app", and says "Not disclosing prior to a NIL agreement could put Student-athletes at risk of violating NCAA and/or SDSU policy". SDSU's NIL FAQ says students "are required to disclose any deal with a cumulative value of $600 or more (including cash and trade)". California law requires each NIL contract to be disclosed to an official the school designates (Educ. Code § 67456(e)(2)) | San Diego State Athletics, NIL Policy and NIL FAQ; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/california |
| Banned categories | California's statute lists none. SDSU's current policy lists no banned categories of its own | San Diego State Athletics, NIL Policy (updated 2024-08-01); /nil/college/california |
| School marks and group licensing | The policy says athletes "cannot use SDSU marks and logos, practice gear, team or player photographs and videos, or aspects of the uniform (including but not limited to designs and player numbers)" for NIL without prior consent from the NIL department and staff. SDSU, the NCAA and the conference may use an athlete's NIL to promote activities incidental to participation under NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.1, and athletes review and agree to these rights annually. SDSU's NIL contact page lists CLC for licensing; the 2024 Aztec Link announcement says that collective may use official SDSU marks | San Diego State Athletics, NIL Policy, NIL Connect page and Aztec Link announcement (2024-01-24) |
| Revenue sharing | SDSU's Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund FAQ (2025-04-07) says the fund supports athletes "through enhanced benefits, including revenue sharing beginning July 1, 2025" and is "managed directly by SDSU Athletics", and says "Much like the awarding of a scholarship, revenue-sharing funds will be at the discretion of the head coach of each sport." Donors may direct gifts to a sport but, "Based on tax counsel advice", may not designate a particular athlete. SDSU Athletics announced the fund's launch on 2025-06-07. The College Sports Commission lists SDSU for 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-22) | San Diego State Athletics, SARRF FAQ (2025-04-07) and fund launch (2025-06-07); College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | Aztec Link: SDSU announced a multi-year agreement on 2024-01-24 naming it "one of SDSU's official NIL collective partners"; SDSU's 2025-04-07 fund FAQ says Aztec Link has been involved with NIL for football, golf, baseball, soccer, softball and track and field. MESA Foundation: described in the same FAQ as "a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting Aztec Basketball". The FAQ says both "will continue their important work", and SDSU's 2025-06-07 fund launch release says both "will remain essential to SDSU's NIL fundraising strategy". On 2026-04-24 SDSU Athletics posted an Aztec Link silent auction, tied to the Aztec Link Coryell Golf Tournament on 2026-05-01, with proceeds to the football program. MESA Foundation's status after 2025-06-07 was not confirmed from a school source. SDSU's Aztec NIL page also links an NIL Store and the INFLCR Exchange ("Work With An Aztec") | San Diego State Athletics, Aztec Link announcement (2024-01-24), SARRF FAQ (2025-04-07), fund launch (2025-06-07), Aztec Link silent auction (2026-04-24) and Aztec NIL page |
| Agents and representation | The policy permits professional representation for NIL contracts or legal matters, says athletes "are responsible for all fees associated with their professional representation", and recommends that service contracts spell out a limited scope. The 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook says SDSU requires agents to file an Agent Registration Form with Compliance, speak with the team's head coach or designated agent representative before contacting an athlete, and follow California and NCAA rules. California's Miller-Ayala Act requires athlete agents to file with the Secretary of State | San Diego State Athletics, NIL Policy; SDSU 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook; /nil/college/california |
| Compliance contact | SDSU Athletic Compliance, Department of Athletics, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4313 (Compliance page). General NIL information: (619) 594-3990, the NIL Coordinator's line (NIL Connect page) | San Diego State Athletics, Compliance and NIL Connect |
| State law | California Education Code § 67456 (Fair Pay to Play Act), in force since 2021-09-01, protects NIL pay and representation, requires each NIL contract to be disclosed to the school and lists no banned categories; in force | /nil/college/california |
What is specific to San Diego State
San Diego State's policy is unusual in spelling out what its own staff may not do: coaches, staff and university contractors may not buy goods or services from an athlete's business "in excess of reasonable personal needs/uses", may not allow use of facilities or marks outside campus procedures, and may not make "Financial Donations and/or Subscriptions to a Collective". Boosters may take part in NIL only "for valid business purposes". On money, SDSU separates three channels in its own words: a department-run Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund that supports revenue sharing, with awards left to each head coach; Aztec Link, a volunteer-run collective that SDSU says has worked with football, golf, baseball, soccer, softball and track and field; and the MESA Foundation for basketball. SDSU also runs an in-house NIL department (Aztec NIL, rebranded from Aztec Advantage in 2023) whose stated program includes financial literacy and access to the Zip Launchpad startup incubator.
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 San Diego State
Does San Diego State pay its athletes?
SDSU takes part in revenue sharing. San Diego State Athletics' April 2025 FAQ says its Student-Athlete Recruitment and Retention Fund supports revenue sharing beginning 2025-07-01 and that revenue-sharing funds are at the discretion of each sport's head coach. The College Sports Commission lists SDSU for 2026-27 and puts the cap at about $21.58 million per school. No breakdown by sport or athlete is published.
What NIL collective works with SDSU athletes?
SDSU names two. Aztec Link has been one of SDSU's official NIL collective partners since a multi-year agreement announced on 2024-01-24, and SDSU's April 2025 fund FAQ describes the MESA Foundation as a nonprofit supporting Aztec basketball. In April 2026 SDSU's athletics site posted an Aztec Link auction for the football program. SDSU's policy bars its own staff from donating or subscribing to a collective.
How do San Diego State athletes report NIL deals?
In NIL Go. SDSU's policy says agreements valued over $600 total "should be disclosed using NIL Go" and encourages logging every NIL activity in the INFLCR app; its NIL FAQ says deals of $600 or more, cash and trade combined, are required to be disclosed. The NCAA deadline is five business days.
Can SDSU athletes wear their uniform or use the Aztecs logo in an NIL deal?
Not without prior consent. SDSU's policy says athletes cannot use SDSU marks and logos, practice gear, team photos and videos, or uniform designs and numbers for NIL without prior consent from the NIL department and staff.
Do agents have to register with San Diego State?
SDSU's 2025-26 Student-Athlete Handbook says agents fill out an Agent Registration Form with the Compliance Office and speak with the team's head coach or designated agent representative before contacting an athlete. California's Miller-Ayala Act separately requires athlete agents to file with the Secretary of State.
Be your own agent. Leave.
