Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Southern California, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what University of Southern California, its conference, the state of California 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 USC
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | USC's 2021 Student-Athlete NIL Policy. Its university policy library address returned "Page not found" on 2026-10-21, though usctrojans.com still links to it from The Shield and from USC Athletics' NIL policy page. That athletics page still shows the policy text marked issued and last revised July 13, 2021; an Internet Archive copy of the policy library page, captured 2026-02-12, shows a revision of December 6, 2021. No later version is published. USC's most recent NIL guidance is The Shield, USC Athletics' NIL program page, with student-athlete and booster FAQs (it refers to "the interim NIL policy"), and the "NIL Booster Rules Education" page posted 2026-03-04 | USC Athletics, "The Shield" and "NIL Booster Rules Education" (2026-03-04); USC Athletics, NIL Policy page (text of 2021-07-13); USC Policy Library (Page not found, 2026-10-21) and Internet Archive copy (revised 2021-12-06, captured 2026-02-12) |
| How deals are disclosed | The Shield FAQ says California state law requires all USC student-athletes to disclose all NIL contracts to USC, and tells athletes to create an account on NILGo.com to disclose deals and receive approval. Under NCAA rules, third-party deals worth $600 or more, including several smaller deals with the same payor that add up to $600, are reported in NIL Go within five business days of signing (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). USC's booster page says "Deals not reported will impact the student-athlete's eligibility" and that the College Sports Commission may reject a deal, after which the athlete "has the opportunity to revise the deal or appeal the decision." The Shield says prospective athletes "do not need to consult or disclose their deals to USC Athletics" until they are enrolled | USC Athletics, The Shield FAQ; USC, "NIL Booster Rules Education" (2026-03-04); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | California's statute lists none (Educ. Code § 67456). The Shield publishes no list of barred products. Its FAQ says "Applicable guidelines prohibit student-athletes from earning NIL compensation during team activities (e.g., practice, games, travel, team content creation and media)," that pay-for-play, improper recruiting inducements and pay for work not performed "are all in violation of NCAA guidelines," and that state law bars NIL contracts that conflict with USC's team contracts. Both 2021 versions of the policy say USC "strongly discourages" NIL contracts related to illegal substances, illegal conduct, or anything else "including but not limited to sports wagering and supplements" that might affect NCAA eligibility | USC Athletics, The Shield FAQ; USC Athletics, NIL Policy page (text of 2021-07-13); USC student-athlete NIL policy, revised 2021-12-06 (Internet Archive copy, 2026-02-12) |
| School marks and group licensing | The Shield says anyone using USC's marks needs a written license from the USC Office of Trademarks & Licensing Services, and lists an athletics contact for "Marks, Logo, Uniform & Color Rights / Retail & Licensing." The July 2021 policy text on usctrojans.com says athletes may not wear USC uniforms or gear or use USC logos, trademarks, photos or videos in NIL activities; the December 2021 revision (Internet Archive copy; the policy library page is gone) instead required USC's prior written approval for those uses and sent NIL merchandise using USC marks through USC licensees. A group licensing program is not published | USC Athletics, The Shield (NIL Resources and booster FAQ); USC Athletics, NIL Policy page (text of 2021-07-13); USC student-athlete NIL policy, revised 2021-12-06 (Internet Archive copy, 2026-02-12) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school, up from $20.5 million in 2025-26. USC calls its payments "NIL Licensing." On 2025-06-12 Athletic Director Jen Cohen wrote that USC "will invest the maximum permissible $20.5 million in 2025-26," and on 2025-10-06 that USC had been distributing institutional NIL Licensing payments since July 1. USC's booster page says school payments count toward the cap and third-party deals do not. A USC figure for 2026-27 is not published on the pages read | USC Athletics, "The State of Troy" (2025-06-12, 2025-10-06); USC, "NIL Booster Rules Education" (2026-03-04); College Sports Commission FAQ |
| Collective or NIL group | USC's NIL pages name no collective. USC runs the Trojan Marketplace on INFLCR, where registered businesses "initiate conversations with student-athletes," create a transaction that "will produce a direct payment to the student-athlete and automate a disclosure to the INFLCR Verified Compliance Ledger," with "no registration or transaction fees," and an NIL interest form (a Google form) for Trojan business leaders. On 2025-06-05 USC announced a 15-year Learfield partnership "set to begin in July 2026," under which USC Sports Properties, Learfield's local team, adds NIL leadership resources and Learfield's Compass NIL platform; usctrojans.com now links its Sports Properties page to Learfield. The Shield says "Anyone who contributes to an NIL entity (i.e., collective) is a booster." House of Victory describes itself on its own site as "a USC-focused athlete marketing agency"; USC's NIL pages do not mention it (checked 2026-10-21) | USC Athletics, The Shield; USC Athletics, "The State of Troy" (2025-10-06); USC Athletics, Learfield partnership release (2025-06-05); houseofvictory.com (2026-10-21) |
| Agents and representation | The Shield FAQ says a professional service provider for NIL, including an agent, tax advisor, marketing consultant, attorney or brand management company, is permissible. California law says schools and associations may not stop an athlete from obtaining representation, which comes from athlete agents licensed under the Miller-Ayala Athlete Agents Act and attorneys licensed by the state (Educ. Code § 67456(c)). Both 2021 versions of the policy say "Professional representation must be reported to the Office of Athletic Compliance." | USC Athletics, The Shield FAQ; USC Athletics, NIL Policy page (text of 2021-07-13); /nil/college/california |
| Compliance contact | USC Office of Athletic Compliance, 213-740-6127 (as listed on its Athlete-Agent Program page); Scott Simon, Associate Vice President, Athletic Compliance, (213) 740-0543. The Shield says Chief Strategy Officer Sam Adams "oversees NIL programming" and that anyone who wants to film NIL content on campus emails him | USC Athletics, Office of Athletic Compliance; USC Athletics, Athlete-Agent Program; The Shield |
| State law | California Education Code § 67456 (Fair Pay to Play Act, operative 2021-09-01) bars schools, the NCAA and conferences from stopping college athletes from earning NIL pay, requires each deal to be disclosed to an official the school designates, and bars schools and associations from paying prospective athletes for NIL; it does not address school pay to enrolled athletes or banned categories. In force | /nil/college/california |
What is specific to USC
USC is a private university, and its published NIL rules come from USC Athletics: The Shield, the department's NIL program page, whose NIL programming Chief Strategy Officer Sam Adams oversees, and the Trojan Marketplace, which USC describes as a one-stop shop where brands, businesses, NIL entities and individuals reach USC athletes "with no registration or transaction fees." USC's letters to fans use the term "NIL Licensing" for the money it pays athletes under the House settlement, and the Trojan Victory Fund page says NIL Licensing alone adds $20.5 million a year to the department's expenses. In April 2026 Athletic Director Jen Cohen reported that since July 2025 USC athletes had "engaged in more than 250 third-party NIL deals with more than 80 businesses," nearly 55 percent of them with women's athletes, and said USC was working to have all 23 programs secure NIL deals by the end of the year. USC's 15-year Learfield partnership, announced in June 2025 and set to begin in July 2026, brings Learfield's local USC Sports Properties team and its Compass NIL platform. USC's 2021 policy, which set disclosure through the INFLCR app, is no longer served by the university policy library, while the athletics site still shows its July 2021 text and links to the missing page.
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 USC
Does USC pay its athletes?
Yes. USC said it would pay the maximum allowed under the House settlement: Athletic Director Jen Cohen wrote on 2025-06-12 that USC "will invest the maximum permissible $20.5 million in 2025-26," and on 2025-10-06 that USC had been distributing "institutional NIL Licensing payments" since July 1, 2025. The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school. USC has not published how the money is divided, and third-party NIL deals are separate from it.
How do USC athletes report NIL deals?
USC's NIL FAQ says California law requires all USC athletes to disclose all NIL contracts to USC, and points them to NILGo.com to disclose deals and receive approval. NCAA rules require third-party deals of $600 or more, including smaller deals with one payor that add up to $600, to be reported in NIL Go within five business days of signing (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). USC's booster page says unreported deals affect eligibility.
What NIL collective works with USC?
USC's own NIL pages name no collective. The school's channels are the Trojan Marketplace on INFLCR, which lets businesses pay athletes directly with no registration or transaction fees, a business interest form, and Learfield's USC Sports Properties team under a partnership USC announced in June 2025 to begin in July 2026. House of Victory calls itself "a USC-focused athlete marketing agency" on its own site, but USC's NIL pages do not mention it. USC says anyone who contributes to a collective is a booster.
Can USC athletes do NIL deals during practice or team travel?
No. The Shield's FAQ says the rules prohibit NIL pay during team activities, naming practice, games, travel, team content creation and media, and that USC expects NIL work not to interfere with class, study hall or exams. Filming NIL content on campus goes through USC's Chief Strategy Officer.
Can USC athletes use the USC logo in NIL deals?
Only with permission. The Shield says USC's marks may be used only with a written license from the USC Office of Trademarks & Licensing Services, and lists an athletics contact for marks, logo, uniform and color rights. USC's July 2021 policy text, still on the athletics site, says athletes may not use USC uniforms, logos, trademarks, photos or videos in NIL activities; a December 2021 revision, no longer in the university policy library, allowed those uses with USC's prior written approval.
Can a USC athlete have an NIL agent?
Yes. The Shield says a professional service provider such as an agent, attorney, tax advisor, marketing consultant or brand management company is permissible for NIL. California law says representation comes from athlete agents licensed under the Miller-Ayala Athlete Agents Act or attorneys licensed by the state (Educ. Code § 67456(c)).
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