Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Texas Southern University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Texas Southern University, its conference, the state of Texas 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 Texas Southern
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Not published. TSU's NIL FAQ says "TSU has an NIL policy that sets forth what student-athletes, the university, donors/boosters, and others can and cannot do with regard to NIL at Texas Southern", but the policy is not on the athletics NIL page, in the university's MAPP policy list or in the Board of Regents policies (read 2026-10-22). The athletics site posts a three-page NIL FAQ and a one-page quick guide (both files created 2026-02-27); the FAQ cites the "NCAA Interim Policy" and Texas law through H.B. 2804 (2023) | Texas Southern Athletics, NIL page, NIL FAQ and Quick Guide (2026); TSU MAPP and Board Policies |
| How deals are disclosed | TSU's FAQ says "You are required to disclose all participation in and Compensation earned from NIL Activities to TSU within four (4) calendar days of entering into a contract for NIL Activities and/or earning Compensation from NIL Activities", including the compensation and any Professional Services Provider, by contacting Athletics Compliance. NCAA rules send third-party deals of $600 or more to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Texas law requires disclosure to the school before entering the contract (§ 51.9246(g)(1)); the FAQ's sidebar describes that rule as disclosure "in advance" | Texas Southern Athletics, NIL FAQ (2026); NCAA 2026-27 Division I Manual; /nil/college/texas |
| Banned categories | TSU's FAQ repeats the Texas list: alcohol, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, anabolic steroids, sports betting, casino gambling, a firearm the athlete cannot legally purchase, and a sexually oriented business. It adds that a TSU athlete "cannot receive compensation for NIL based on their athletic performance at TSU" and that no NIL contract or payment may depend on competing for or attending TSU. The statute also lists other nicotine delivery devices (§ 51.9246(g)(2)(B)) | Texas Southern Athletics, NIL FAQ (2026); /nil/college/texas |
| School marks and group licensing | TSU's documents differ. The FAQ's business section answers "Maybe": athletes may use TSU marks or logos only for retail NIL activities, with rights secured "through existing channels" under a valid agreement, and not for appearances, social media, advertisements or camps; it names CLC as TSU's "current exclusive product licensing agent". The FAQ's donor section says athletes "cannot use TSU marks and logos and/or wear TSU-branded attire during NIL Activities", and the quick guide answers No to "Can I use TSU logos to promote my NIL activities?". The FAQ's sidebar says the 2023 law allows marks "with advanced authorized approval from the university". TSU's licensing page names Learfield Licensing Partners as its licensing partner | Texas Southern Athletics, NIL FAQ, Quick Guide (2026) and Licensing page |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission's 2026-27 participating-schools table lists Texas Southern University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (read 2026-10-22), and the Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school". TSU has published no revenue-sharing statement, amount or breakdown on its athletics site, and its NIL FAQ and quick guide do not mention revenue sharing | College Sports Commission; Texas Southern Athletics, NIL page (read 2026-10-22) |
| Collective or NIL group | No NIL collective is named on TSU's athletics site. The NIL page names Opendorse as TSU's partner and links the "TSU Tigers NIL Marketplace"; the Opendorse page calls itself "The Official Texas Southern Tigers Marketplace for NIL Deals". The FAQ says athletes may do NIL deals with TSU donors or boosters when the deal meets the other NIL requirements, and that "TSU employees, including but not limited to athletics staff and coaches, cannot be involved, either directly or indirectly, in (1) finding NIL opportunities for you, (2) assisting you with your NIL Activities, (3) providing Compensation directly to you for NIL Activities, and/or (4) securing you a Professional Services Provider (PSP)." TSU Athletics held its first NIL summit on 2026-01-23 "in partnership with B.E. Collective+, ABC Sports Foundation, and the TSU College of Education", with workshops, panels and networking with Houston businesses (release of 2026-01-28) | Texas Southern Athletics, NIL page, NIL FAQ (2026) and NIL Summit releases (2026-01-14, 2026-01-28); Opendorse |
| Agents and representation | TSU's FAQ allows a "Professional Services Provider", defined as any individual or entity providing NIL services "including, but not limited to, an agent, tax advisor, marketing consultant, attorney", and says the term "does not include any agent that is advising you on professional sports opportunities"; the quick guide answers No to hiring an agent "to secure professional athletics opportunities". Texas law bars a school from preventing professional representation for NIL contracts, including by a Texas-licensed attorney (§ 51.9246(c)(2)); athlete agent registration is in Occupations Code ch. 2051 | Texas Southern Athletics, NIL FAQ and Quick Guide (2026); /nil/college/texas |
| Compliance contact | TSU Athletics Compliance, (713) 313-7614. The NIL FAQ names Larry Woods (713-313-7061) and Gino Simoni (713-313-7442) for NIL questions; the athletics staff directory lists them as Director of Compliance and Compliance Coordinator, with the same numbers | Texas Southern Athletics, Staff Directory and NIL FAQ (2026) |
| State law | Under Texas Education Code § 51.9246 (in force), TSU athletes disclose each proposed NIL contract to the school before signing and may not take listed endorsements; contract terms TSU holds are confidential, and since HB 126 (2025-06-05) the statute allows what an athletic association, conference or final court order authorizes | /nil/college/texas |
What is specific to Texas Southern
Texas Southern, which calls itself one of the nation's largest historically Black universities, has been a SWAC member since 1954 by the conference's own history. It publishes its NIL rules as a question-and-answer sheet rather than a policy. The sheet is unusually concrete about daily life: an athlete may not miss class or team activities for NIL work, may not wear a TSU uniform or TSU-issued apparel in NIL activities, may not sell items received from the athletics department, may use TSU facilities only after renting them the way the public does, and may not wear a non-sponsor's gear in team activities (it gives Under Armour as an example of an athletics sponsor). It also flags F-1 visa employment rules for international athletes and says NIL pay may count in need-based aid and Pell grant calculations, though not against athletic scholarships. TSU's own FAQ bars its employees, including coaches, from finding NIL opportunities, assisting with NIL activities, paying athletes directly for them or securing a representative, while Texas law has allowed schools to help athletes find third-party deals since 2023 (§ 51.9246(m)).
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 Southern
Does Texas Southern pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists Texas Southern among schools participating in revenue sharing for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. TSU has published no amount or breakdown. Its NIL quick guide separately answers No to "Can TSU or my coaches provide compensation for my NIL activities?", which covers NIL deals rather than revenue sharing.
How do Texas Southern athletes report NIL deals?
TSU's NIL FAQ says athletes disclose all NIL activity and compensation to TSU within four calendar days of entering a contract or earning compensation, through Athletics Compliance. NCAA rules add NIL Go reporting for third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days, and Texas law calls for disclosure of each proposed contract before signing.
Can Texas Southern athletes use the TSU logo in NIL deals?
TSU's documents answer differently. The FAQ's business section allows marks only for retail NIL activities with rights secured under a valid licensing agreement; its donor section and the quick guide say athletes cannot use TSU marks or logos in NIL activities. Texas law allows school marks only with the school's permission at market rates. TSU Athletics Compliance is the office the FAQ names for approval.
What NIL collective works with Texas Southern?
TSU's athletics site names no NIL collective. It links the TSU Tigers NIL Marketplace on Opendorse, and its FAQ says donors and boosters may do NIL deals with athletes when the deal is for services, is not for athletic performance and is not an inducement to attend or stay at TSU. TSU Athletics held its first NIL summit in January 2026 with B.E. Collective+ and ABC Sports Foundation as partners.
Can a Texas Southern athlete hire an agent for NIL?
Yes for NIL, according to TSU's FAQ: an athlete may hire a Professional Services Provider such as an agent, attorney, tax advisor or marketing consultant to secure NIL compensation, and discloses that provider to TSU. The FAQ and quick guide say that provider cannot advise on professional sports opportunities.
Be your own agent. Leave.
