Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of California San Diego, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what University of California San Diego, its conference, the state of California and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 24, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at UC San Diego
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | UC San Diego Athletics, "Scholar-Athlete Name, Image, Likeness Guidelines" (PDF created 2026-03-11, as its file name and metadata show, and posted 2026-03-26), linked from the athletics NIL page. They apply from full-time enrollment or the start of official practice, cover compensated and uncompensated NIL activity, bar pay for athletic performance (for example "scoring three goals, winning Big West Championship"), and say failure to follow them may bring sanctions up to suspension or dismissal from the program. The University of California's Regents Policy 3501, Policy on Student Athletes (approved 2016-05-12), does not mention NIL, and no UC system-wide NIL policy was found | UC San Diego Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2026-03-11) and Name, Image, Likeness page |
| How deals are disclosed | The guidelines require all NIL deals to be disclosed in Teamworks Influencer within 5 business days of entering the agreement, citing UC San Diego policy and California law, and NIL Go for third-party activity of $600 or more in aggregate within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2); the NIL page words the NIL Go deadline as "within five (5) days". UC San Diego reviews each agreement for conflicts with its contracts; where there is one, the athlete "cannot enter into the proposed arrangement" but may negotiate a revision and submit the revised terms for review before signing. Agent agreements for NIL are disclosed to the compliance office. California law requires disclosure to an official the school designates but sets no deadline (Educ. Code § 67456(e)(2)) | UC San Diego Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2026-03-11) and Name, Image, Likeness page; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/california |
| Banned categories | California's statute lists none. UC San Diego publishes no category ban but lists sponsor conflicts for deals that require activity during team activities: products competitive to Under Armour, beverages competitive to Pepsi, energy drinks competitive to Red Bull, sports drinks competitive to Gatorade, consumer financial services competitive to University Credit Union, ticketing competitive to "Paciloan" (as spelled), and companies competitive to Handmade Chef, California Beef Council, JLab, V Group, UC San Diego Health, Papa Johns, Sun Diego and Booch Craft. The guidelines say "NIL deals involving AI software (e.g., ChatGPT, Caktus AI, QuillBot, etc.) are permissible under California law and NCAA rules", while using AI software in coursework "could be considered academic misconduct" under the Code of Student Conduct | UC San Diego Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2026-03-11); /nil/college/california |
| School marks and group licensing | UC San Diego logos, trademarks and other intellectual property, including apparel with UC San Diego marks, may not be used in NIL activity without prior authorization from the Branding Office, requested through a "Use of UC San Diego Name & Marks Request" in ARMS, under campus policy PPM 510-10; photos supplied through Influencer are approved for NIL use. Athletes may say they are UC San Diego athletes but may not imply endorsement. Athletics facilities may be rented for NIL at the applicable rate. UC San Diego Athletics reported on 2026-06-10 that nearly 200 athletes sold merchandise through Athlete's Thread storefronts in 2025-26 | UC San Diego Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2026-03-11), Name, Image, Likeness page and Athlete's Thread release (2026-06-10) |
| Revenue sharing | UC San Diego Athletics announced on 2025-03-07 that it "has officially submitted its intent to the NCAA to opt into the proposed settlement terms of House v. NCAA"; Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards said opting in "positions UC San Diego Athletics to continue to build our foundation". The College Sports Commission lists the University of California, San Diego for 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-24). On 2026-01-09 UC San Diego Athletics announced Tritons Rise, "a $2 million matching initiative" that matches new gifts to the Triton Champions Fund 1:1 and "will provide matched philanthropic support for scholar-athlete financial assistance, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)". No breakdown by sport was published | UC San Diego Athletics, opt-in announcement (2025-03-07) and Tritons Rise (2026-01-09); College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | UC San Diego Athletics announced on 2025-07-21 its endorsement of the SD Tide Collective, "newly-formed" to "power the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for Triton basketball players" (men's and women's), and said collectives "are operated independently of the university". The SD Tide Collective's own website said on 2026-10-24 that it "is winding down", that subscriptions end October 31, and that "UC San Diego is now bringing NIL support in house", pointing supporters to the Triton Basketball Champions Fund; UC San Diego has not published a statement on this. UC San Diego launched the Triton Exchange with Teamworks Influencer on 2025-10-08, a marketplace free to athletes and outside partners where registered partners can search for athletes and start NIL deals | UC San Diego Athletics, SD Tide Collective endorsement (2025-07-21) and Triton Exchange launch (2025-10-08); SD Tide Collective website (read 2026-10-24) |
| Agents and representation | The guidelines allow an agent for NIL activities only; the agent "needs to be registered under California law", is paid "their regular rate", and may not represent an athlete for a professional sports career until eligibility is exhausted or the athlete declares for a draft. Agents register with the Athletics Compliance Office using its form, with proof of filing an Athlete Agent Disclosure Statement with the California Secretary of State under the Miller-Ayala Act | UC San Diego Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2026-03-11) and Agents page; /nil/college/california |
| Compliance contact | UC San Diego Athletics Compliance Office, athleticscompliance@ucsd.edu; the office is part of the university's Ethics and Compliance unit and reports to the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer | UC San Diego Athletics, Compliance page |
| State law | California Education Code § 67456 (Fair Pay to Play Act), operative since 2021-09-01, covers University of California campuses, protects NIL pay and representation, requires each NIL contract to be disclosed to an official the school designates and lists no banned categories; in force | /nil/college/california |
What is specific to UC San Diego
UC San Diego is new to Division I: it joined the Big West in 2020 from Division II, The Big West says its reclassification was completed on 2024-07-01, and it opted into the House settlement the next March. It has also announced its next move: the Tritons join the West Coast Conference on 2027-07-01, keep men's and women's track and field, men's volleyball and women's water polo in the Big West, and UC San Diego says it remains committed to finding a conference for its other sports the WCC does not sponsor. Its written NIL guidelines set a school disclosure deadline of five business days in Influencer for every deal, name 14 companies whose categories can conflict during team activities, bar NIL activity during team travel from the time athletes report to a UC San Diego facility or vehicle until they leave it (unless the itinerary lists free time), and address deals with AI software. The athletics compliance office "is part of the University's greater Ethics & Compliance unit and reports directly to the University's Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer". UC San Diego (the Tritons) is a University of California campus; it is not the University of San Diego or San Diego State.
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 UC San Diego
Does UC San Diego pay its athletes?
UC San Diego opted into the House settlement in March 2025, and the College Sports Commission lists it among schools participating in revenue sharing for 2026-27, with a 2026-27 cap of about $21.58 million per school. No breakdown by sport or athlete is published.
How do UC San Diego athletes report NIL deals?
UC San Diego's guidelines say every NIL deal is disclosed in Teamworks Influencer within five business days of entering the agreement, and third-party deals of $600 or more also go into NIL Go within five business days. The school reviews each agreement for conflicts with its sponsor contracts.
What NIL collective works with UC San Diego?
UC San Diego Athletics endorsed the SD Tide Collective in July 2025 for men's and women's basketball and says collectives operate independently of the university. The collective's own website said on 2026-10-24 that it is winding down; UC San Diego has not published a statement on that. UC San Diego also runs the Triton Exchange marketplace on Teamworks Influencer.
Is UC San Diego leaving the Big West?
Yes. UC San Diego accepted an invitation to join the West Coast Conference beginning 2027-07-01, so 2026-27 is its last season as a full Big West member. UC San Diego Athletics said on 2026-06-29 that men's and women's track and field, men's volleyball and women's water polo stay in the Big West from 2027-28.
Is UC San Diego the same as the University of San Diego?
No. UC San Diego is a public University of California campus in La Jolla; the University of San Diego is a separate school already in the West Coast Conference, and San Diego State is in the Pac-12.
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