Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by San José State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what San José State University, its conference, the state of California 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 San José State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | SJSU Athletics posts a ten-section "Name, Image and Likeness Policy" as a web page and as a PDF (the PDF's source file is named SJSU_NIL_Policy_070621 and was created 2021-07-23; the 2024 Student-Athlete Handbook links a policy page dated 2021-07-23). It says SJSU "will permit student-athletes to be compensated for the noninstitutional use of their name, image and likeness" and reserves the right to restrict references to the University beyond the fact that the athlete competes there. Pay "may not be conditioned on athletic performance, or lack thereof, or attendance at a particular institution", must be for work actually performed at a market rate, and transactions "are subject to review" by SJSU, the Mountain West, the NCAA or an independent third party. The policy says SJSU "has full discretion to implement, adapt, or repeal these policies at any time" | San José State Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Policy (2021) |
| 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). SJSU's policy says a student-athlete "shall disclose information and details of all NIL activities": the activity and its start date, proof such as an agreement or screenshot, the third party and a contact, the amount and type of pay, and any professional service provider. The policy names no platform or deadline; SJSU's athletics site links an "SJSU NIL Marketplace" on INFLCR and on Opendorse, and SJSU announced a Teamworks Influencer partnership on 2025-04-09. California law requires each NIL contract to be disclosed to an official the school designates (Educ. Code § 67456(e)(2)) | San José State Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Policy and Teamworks Influencer partnership (2025-04-09); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/california |
| Banned categories | California's statute lists none. Under "Prohibited Categories" SJSU's policy says SJSU "strongly recommends students not engage in NIL activities in areas such as sports wagering, alcohol, tobacco, banned and illegal drugs and other vice categories", and lists athletics footwear, apparel and equipment while the athlete is in team-related or academic activities. SJSU reserves the right to restrict deals that conflict with institutional contracts or institutional values. No specific activities, entities or individuals are prohibited "at this time" | San José State Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Policy (2021); /nil/college/california |
| School marks and group licensing | The policy bars NIL activity that uses SJSU marks "without the express written consent from the University prior to usage", wearing apparel with SJSU names, logos or marks, and using institutionally produced images or video. If SJSU makes an athlete a licensee, those rights last only while the athlete is an active, rostered member of a team. Items SJSU provided, such as awards and retained apparel, may not be sold until eligibility ends. NIL activity in SJSU facilities or on campus property needs express written consent first. A group licensing program: Not published | San José State Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Policy (2021) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists San José State University as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). In the SJSU Athletics Board Annual Report to the Academic Senate (2025-04-14), the president asked the board for a plan "by which SJSU athletics may be able to opt into a post House settlement revenue share model", noting it would likely decrease Mountain West media distribution revenue. The athletics director's slides in the same report list a "Revenue Share Plan" with the items "Varsity Enhanced" and "Varsity Support", and put the department's scholarship allocation at $9.2M for 2024-25 and $8.0M for 2025-26, a difference the slides say "accounts for the necessary $1.2M in revenue share". That is a department-level planning figure from April 2025, not pay to any athlete. No later SJSU statement on revenue sharing was found | College Sports Commission; SJSU Athletics Board Annual Report (2025-04-14) |
| Collective or NIL group | Not published. No collective is named on the SJSU athletics pages read on 2026-10-23. SJSU's NIL marketplace links go to INFLCR and Opendorse. On 2026-05-14 SJSU Athletics announced a $4 million philanthropic commitment to men's basketball, from donors it did not name, to support "player retention, talent acquisition, and critical operational needs"; the release does not describe it as a collective | San José State Athletics, NIL Marketplace links and men's basketball commitment (2026-05-14) |
| Agents and representation | The policy allows a professional service provider "for advice, contract representation, and the marketing of their NIL, so long as the professional service provider is not representing the student-athlete for securing professional athletic opportunities". Fees must be "consistent with typical industry arrangements" and disclosed in a written agreement, SJSU "may not identify, select or evaluate" a provider, and SJSU reserves the right to restrict a provider it finds "not fit to serve in that capacity". SJSU's agent page says player-agents must be registered with California before representing any athlete and then register with the SJSU Compliance Office using a Player-Agent Registration Form and proof of state registration. California's Miller-Ayala Act requires athlete agents to file with the Secretary of State | San José State Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Policy (2021) and Agent Form and Policy page; /nil/college/california |
| Compliance contact | SJSU Athletics Compliance; the athletics staff directory lists an Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and compliance staff, with a compliance fax of (408) 924-1738 | San José State Athletics, Staff Directory |
| 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 José State
San José State's NIL policy still reads as written for July 2021. It was built from Opendorse's policy generator (an Opendorse copyright notice closes the page), refers to "proposed NCAA legislation", opens each section with a plain-language "Simply put" summary, and does not mention NIL Go or revenue sharing. Two of its sections are unusual: a crowdfunding section that lets athletes use their NIL in crowdfunding for educational expenses outside the cost of attendance, a charitable purpose, or "actual and necessary funds" with no institutional involvement, and a coursework section saying a product or service an athlete develops in class is not restricted and may be bought by SJSU or its employees. SJSU paired the policy with Opendorse Ready education delivered through its Beyond Sparta program (announced 2021-07-12). The university's own record of the revenue-sharing decision is public: the Athletics Board's report to the Academic Senate (2025-04-14) quotes the president's charge to plan an opt-in and the trade-offs that charge named, including lower Mountain West media distribution, roster limits and scholarship allocations. San José State has been a Mountain West member since 2013.
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 José State
Does San José State pay its athletes?
San José State takes part in revenue sharing. The College Sports Commission lists it for 2026-27 and puts the cap at about $21.58 million per school. The athletics director's slides in an April 2025 Athletics Board report tie a revenue share plan for 2025-26 to a lower scholarship allocation. No breakdown by sport or athlete is published.
How do SJSU athletes report NIL deals?
SJSU's policy says athletes disclose details of all NIL activity: what the activity is, who is involved, how much and in what form they are paid, and any agent or advisor. NCAA rules add a NIL Go report within five business days for third-party deals of $600 or more, and California law requires each NIL contract to be disclosed to an official the school designates.
Can San José State athletes use the Spartans logo or uniform in NIL deals?
Not without SJSU's express written consent. The policy bars using SJSU marks without prior written consent, wearing apparel with SJSU names or logos, and using images or video SJSU produced. NIL activity in SJSU facilities also needs written consent.
Does an NIL agent have to register with San José State?
SJSU's agent page says player-agents register with the State of California first and then with the SJSU Compliance Office, submitting a Player-Agent Registration Form with proof of state registration. SJSU's NIL policy also reserves the right to restrict an advisor SJSU finds not fit to serve.
What NIL collective works with San José State?
SJSU's athletics site names no collective as of 2026-10-23. It links an NIL marketplace on INFLCR and Opendorse, and in May 2026 it announced a $4 million donor commitment to men's basketball for player retention and talent acquisition.
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