Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The University of Texas at Austin, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what The University of Texas at Austin, its conference, the state of Texas and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 21, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Texas
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | UT's "Name, Image, and Likeness" page (dated 2021-07-01) and its six-page "Name, Image, Likeness FAQ for Student-Athletes" (each page marked "Updated: 6/30/21") are still online on 2026-10-21; the 2021 page appears in the NIL news hub and links the FAQ. The FAQ describes disclosure through the ARMS NIL Disclosure Form, no pay based on athletic performance or on enrollment or attendance at UT, no NIL pay during official team activities, contracts that may not extend beyond participation at Texas Athletics, and conflicts with UT institutional contracts resolved within 10 days. It describes the 2021 statute: for example, it says "Texas' NIL law precludes an institution from providing NIL compensation", a ban HB 126 removed in 2025, and that UT marks may not be used in NIL deals, which HB 2804 (2023) changed to permission at market rates. No newer written NIL policy was found on texaslonghorns.com | Texas Athletics, "Name, Image, and Likeness" (2021-07-01) and Student-Athlete NIL FAQ (2021-06-30) |
| How deals are disclosed | Texas law: each proposed NIL contract is disclosed to UT "before entering into the contract, in the manner prescribed by the institution" (§ 51.9246(g)(1)). UT's NIL page links a "Student-Athlete NIL Disclosure Form (access for student-athletes only)" in ARMS; the 2021 FAQ also asks athletes to report NIL activity with no written contract. 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) | Texas Athletics NIL page; Tex. Educ. Code § 51.9246; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | Texas law bars NIL 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)). A deal also may not conflict with a team contract, a UT institutional contract, an athletics department policy or the honor code (§ 51.9246(g)(2)(A)); UT's NIL page links lists of "UT Sponsors" and "UT Significant Partners" (posted 2021) | Tex. Educ. Code § 51.9246; Texas Athletics NIL page |
| School marks and group licensing | Under Texas law, UT's marks, uniforms and facilities may be used only with UT's express permission, under its licensing requirements and at market rates (§ 51.9246(g)(5), (g-2)). On 2021-08-20 Texas Athletics and The Brandr Group launched a group licensing program for UT-branded, officially licensed merchandise with athletes' NIL: voluntary, for groups of three or more from one team or six or more across sports, and it "does not restrict the student-athlete's individual NIL rights"; its current status was not confirmed. UT's NIL page links its trademarks office and a list of protected marks | Texas Athletics, group licensing announcement (2021-08-20); Tex. Educ. Code § 51.9246 |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists UT as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" for 2026-27 (read 2026-10-21). No UT allocation by sport was found on its athletics site. Information UT holds that reveals any term of an NIL contract is confidential under Texas law, and UT may withhold it from public records requests without asking the Attorney General (§ 51.9246(l)) | College Sports Commission, Revenue Sharing and Participating Schools; Tex. Educ. Code § 51.9246(l) |
| Collective or NIL group | A 2023-12-12 announcement posted on Texas Athletics' site describes the Texas One Fund as "an organization supporting NIL opportunities for The University of Texas student-athletes". On 2026-10-21 its site (texasonefund.com) presents "Texas One" as "the Official Fan Subscription Service of Texas Athletics" that works with businesses "utilizing Texas athletes' name, image, and likeness"; no UT page confirming that relationship was found. Separately, Texas Athletics and Learfield's Longhorn Sports Properties launched the Longhorn Sports Agency on 2025-06-30 to facilitate brand deals for UT athletes, with deal tools through Learfield's Compass NIL platform | Texas One site; Texas Athletics, Longhorn Sports Agency announcement (2025-06-30) |
| Agents and representation | Texas law: UT may not prevent professional representation, including by a Texas-licensed attorney (§ 51.9246(c)(2)). UT's agents page says UT "requires that agents wishing to contact UT student-athletes be registered with the state of Texas's Secretary of State's office" and "does not require agents to register separately"; UT holds agent interview weeks each fall and spring. The 2021 FAQ says an NIL representative who is also an "athlete agent" under Texas law must be registered and bonded with the Secretary of State | Texas Athletics Compliance, Agents/Advisors; Student-Athlete NIL FAQ (2021) |
| Compliance contact | Athletics Risk Management and Compliance Services, compliance@athletics.utexas.edu, (512) 471-7285; the 2021 FAQ directs NIL questions to NIL@athletics.utexas.edu | Texas Athletics Compliance; Student-Athlete NIL FAQ (2021) |
| State law | Tex. Educ. Code § 51.9246 requires disclosure of each proposed NIL contract to the school before signing, bans listed endorsement categories, keeps contract terms the school holds confidential, and since HB 126 (2025-06-05) allows what an athletic association, conference or final court order authorizes; in force | /nil/college/texas |
What is specific to Texas
Texas Athletics' recent NIL announcements center on Learfield's Longhorn Sports Properties. On 2025-02-24 the two announced three new NIL positions, and on 2025-06-30 they launched the Longhorn Sports Agency, which combines Learfield Impact NIL services, Learfield Studios content producers, Longhorn Sports Network radio and the Longhorn Network; its page lists seven staff, from a director to coordinators. The LEVERAGE program (since 2020) covers NIL education including financial literacy, the Opendorse-powered marketplace has run since April 2022, and Nike's Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program partnered with 16 Texas athletes (2026-03-13) and 13 more (2026-09-07). What the public can see is limited by Texas law: contract terms UT holds are confidential, and no UT revenue-sharing breakdown was found on its athletics site.
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 Texas
Does Texas pay its athletes directly?
UT is on the College Sports Commission's list of schools participating in revenue sharing for 2026-27, and the Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at about $21.58 million per school. No UT breakdown of that money by sport was found on its athletics site. Since HB 126 (2025-06-05) the Texas statute no longer bars pay from the school, and information UT holds about the terms of an athlete's NIL contract is confidential under Education Code § 51.9246(l).
How do Texas Longhorns athletes report NIL deals?
Two rules apply. Texas law says each proposed NIL contract is disclosed to UT before signing, in the manner UT prescribes; UT's NIL page links a Student-Athlete NIL Disclosure Form for athletes. NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 add a report to NIL Go within five business days for third-party deals of $600 or more.
What NIL collective works with Texas?
A 2023 announcement on Texas Athletics' site describes the Texas One Fund as an organization supporting NIL opportunities for UT athletes. On 2026-10-21 its site presents "Texas One" as the official fan subscription service of Texas Athletics. The athletics department's own deal unit, run with Learfield's Longhorn Sports Properties, is the Longhorn Sports Agency, launched 2025-06-30.
Are Texas athletes' NIL contracts public records?
Not the terms UT holds. Education Code § 51.9246(l) makes any information UT holds that reveals a term of an NIL contract or proposed contract confidential and excepted from the Public Information Act, and UT may withhold it without asking the Attorney General for a decision.
Can a Texas athlete wear the Longhorn logo in an NIL ad?
Only with UT's permission. Texas law lets a school allow use of its marks only under its licensing requirements and at market rates (§ 51.9246(g)(5), (g-2)). UT's 2021 FAQ said UT marks could not be used in NIL deals at that time. In 2021 UT and The Brandr Group launched a group licensing program for UT-branded merchandise carrying athletes' NIL; its current status was not confirmed.
Be your own agent. Leave.
