Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Southern Illinois University Carbondale, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Southern Illinois University Carbondale, its conference, the state of Illinois 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 Southern Illinois
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Policy", a one-page document posted on the athletics site (its address is dated 2021-08-29), "based on legislation enacted on July 1, 2021 in the State of Illinois and current NCAA Interim NIL Policy". It covers trademarks, disclosure, Illinois' banned categories, international athletes, market-value pay, taxes and need-based aid, and says institutional staff "may not be involved in, facilitate, negotiate, or initiate any NIL activities" while SIU "must monitor all NIL activity". No newer SIU NIL policy was found on the athletics site, and the compliance page links none | SIU Athletics, NIL Policy (2021); SIU Athletics, Compliance page (read 2026-10-23) |
| How deals are disclosed | SIU's policy: "Any NIL activity (contracts/endorsements) must be pre-approved by the Saluki Athletics Compliance office", agreements with marketing or promotional agents are also submitted for approval, and documentation "can be completed through the INFLNCR platform". NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Illinois law: athletes disclose all publicity rights agreements to the school as it prescribes, and a deal of $500 or more is a written contract (110 ILCS 190/15(f), 20(c)) | SIU Athletics, NIL Policy (2021); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/illinois |
| Banned categories | Illinois law, repeated in SIU's policy: gambling, sports betting, controlled substances, cannabis, tobacco or alcohol, alternative or electronic nicotine products, performance-enhancing supplements, adult entertainment, and any brand "reasonably considered to be inconsistent with the values or mission of Southern Illinois University". SIU adds that NIL activity may not conflict with athletic or team activities | SIU Athletics, NIL Policy (2021); /nil/college/illinois |
| School marks and group licensing | SIU's policy bars SIU trademarks in NIL activity, "to include logos, language, names or team issued gear", unless permission comes through the department's licensing approval process, "which includes a licensing fee", and bars selling team-issued gear until the athlete leaves SIU. The 2025 Saluki Athletics Media and Branding Policy says only Saluki Athletics manages official logos, colors and messaging. A group licensing program is not published | SIU Athletics, NIL Policy (2021) and Media and Branding Policy |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists Southern Illinois University at Carbondale as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). Leonard's 2025-06-18 letter says the money "will come from our existing budgets" and that "This will stretch us financially and require some tough decisions along the way". SIU reported nearly $10.4 million in gifts and commitments for fiscal 2026, supporting areas including "competitive excellence" (2026-08-05). No revenue-sharing total or split by sport is published | SIU Athletics, letter from Tim Leonard (2025-06-18) and fundraising release (2026-08-05); College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | Pride of Little Egypt. SIU Athletics announced it on 2024-05-08 as "its Name, Image and Likeness collective", supporting all 17 SIU programs and working with Student Athlete NIL (SANIL); the release says it "is independent from Southern Illinois University, and the university does not receive any financial benefit from the collective". A 2024-09-13 release calls it "the athletic department's name, image and likeness program" and ties Big Dawg Leadership Society levels to commitments to it. The website that release gives for gifts did not resolve on 2026-10-23, and no 2025 or 2026 SIU source on it was found, so its current status is not confirmed. An earlier men's basketball collective, NIL FloorburnU, was announced on 2023-03-27 | SIU Athletics releases (2023-03-27, 2024-05-08, 2024-09-13) |
| Agents and representation | SIU's policy has athletes submit any agreement with a marketing or promotional agent for approval and says agent representation for future professional contracts remains barred by NCAA rules. Illinois law: no school may stop an athlete from using an agent or attorney; representatives follow the federal Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act "to the extent required"; a representation agreement signed while competing may not run past the athlete's participation; Illinois has had no agent registration law since 2017 | SIU Athletics, NIL Policy (2021) and Agents page; /nil/college/illinois |
| Compliance contact | SIU Athletics Compliance (siusalukis.com, Compliance). The staff directory lists Massey Arnold, Senior Associate AD for Student Services and Internal Affairs, under Compliance (massey.arnold@siu.edu), and a Student Services unit for academics, compliance and NIL | SIU Athletics, Compliance page and Staff Directory (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | In force. Illinois' Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act (110 ILCS 190) covers public and private colleges: athletes disclose deals as the school prescribes, listed categories are banned, deal terms held by a school are exempt from FOIA, and since 2025-01-01 a school may pay athletes where a settlement, association rule or school policy allows | /nil/college/illinois |
What is specific to Southern Illinois
SIU's NIL story is told mostly through local money. In 2023 SIU Athletics published the unveiling of NIL FloorburnU, a men's basketball collective named for the gritty style of the 2007 Sweet 16 team, on which coach Bryan Mullins played point guard, and partnered with Opendorse. In May 2024 the department launched Pride of Little Egypt for all 17 sports, taking its name from the region's old nickname that also led SIU to the saluki, the royal dog of Egypt, as its mascot in 1951. Banterra Bank, which holds naming rights to the Banterra Center, signed four Saluki athletes to NIL deals in November 2024 and committed "a portion of debit card transaction revenue to SIU Scholarships and NIL efforts for Saluki athletes" through its Saluki debit card. When revenue sharing arrived, Leonard did not describe a new fund: he wrote that SIU would pay from existing budgets and asked fans for tickets, gifts, sponsorships and support for the Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund, and SIU reported its best fundraising year a year later.
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 Southern Illinois
Does SIU pay its athletes?
SIU opted in to House settlement revenue sharing; Tim Leonard wrote on 2025-06-18 that the money would come from existing budgets. The College Sports Commission lists Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. SIU has not published how much it pays or how the money is divided among sports.
What NIL collective works with Southern Illinois?
Pride of Little Egypt, which SIU Athletics announced on 2024-05-08 as its NIL collective for all 17 sports, independent of the university. Its website did not load on 2026-10-23 and no newer SIU source on it was found, so its current status is not confirmed.
How do Salukis report NIL deals?
SIU's posted NIL policy says any NIL contract or endorsement "must be pre-approved by the Saluki Athletics Compliance office", with documentation through INFLCR. Illinois law also has athletes disclose deals to the school as it prescribes, and third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days.
What NIL deals are banned for SIU athletes?
Illinois law bars deals for gambling, sports betting, controlled substances, cannabis, tobacco or alcohol, e-cigarettes and other nicotine products, performance-enhancing supplements and adult entertainment, plus brands inconsistent with the school's values or mission. SIU's policy repeats that list.
Can a Saluki athlete use the SIU logo in an NIL deal?
Not without permission. SIU's policy bars university trademarks, including logos, names and team-issued gear, unless approved through the department's licensing process, which includes a licensing fee.
Be your own agent. Leave.
