Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The University of Utah, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what The University of Utah, its conference, the state of Utah 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 Utah
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Name, Image, Likeness Policy & Procedure" (last updated 2024-08-01): no pay for athletic performance, enrollment or work not performed; NIL may not interfere with academic or required athletic obligations; booster deals need a booster attestation after the athlete discloses; international athletes on F-1 visas "are not permitted to be compensated for NIL activities"; athletes "are required to follow direction provided by the compliance office" and may be deemed ineligible for not following the policy; athletes wear Under Armour for team activities. Utah's NIL 2022 FAQ, still posted, says the institution "may not organize or pay student-athletes for NIL opportunities". The Elevate U team page (posted 2025-03-12) says the Executive Senior Associate A.D. for Brand Strategy and Governance oversees "Revenue Share and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) contracts". The 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (updated 2026-07-30) has an NIL section on Elevate U and Utah's 2024 law, H.B. 202 | Utah Athletics, NIL Policy and Procedure (2024-08-01); NIL 2022 FAQ; Elevate U team; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| How deals are disclosed | 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). Utah's policy says athletes submit information "for all NIL activities through the INFLCR app", that contracts "must be approved by the compliance office before the student-athlete signs with a business or professional service provider", and that the disclosure form is submitted "five (5) business days prior to the activity" with pre-approval before any activity or payment. The same policy also says "A student-athlete must disclose NIL activities equal to or great than $600" and cites H.B. 202. The 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (updated 2026-07-30) says that under H.B. 202, "Before a student-athlete or prospective student-athlete enters into an NIL agreement that exceeds $600 in value, the student-athletes shall provide the agreement to the student-athlete’s institution"; the Utah state page records that this 2024 rule was repealed by H.B. 479, in force 2025-05-07, and that Utah law has had no disclosure rule since | Utah Athletics, NIL Policy and Procedure; Compliance Disclosures; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; /nil/college/utah |
| Banned categories | Utah law: no NIL agreement that promotes tobacco or electronic cigarettes, alcohol, a seller or dispenser of a controlled substance (including steroids, antibiotics and marijuana), gambling or betting, a sexually oriented business, or a firearm the athlete cannot legally buy (Utah Code § 53H-6-202(3)(a)). Utah's policy lists tobacco and vaping, alcohol, sellers or dispensaries of controlled substances including marijuana, adult entertainment, and gambling and casinos, and says: "Due to existing contractual obligations, the University has entered into to outfit and fuel Athletics, student-athletes may not use their NIL to endorse any beverage companies other than Pepsi and the following apparel companies: Nike (including Jordan brand), Adidas, Lululemon, Reebok, New Balance, and Converse." The 2026-27 handbook lists the six state-law categories | Utah Athletics, NIL Policy and Procedure; Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; /nil/college/utah |
| School marks and group licensing | Athletes may request use of university logos through licensing.utah.edu; protected marks named include the interlocking U, block U, circle and feather, Utah Utes, Red Rocks and Runnin' Utes. Businesses may not use university marks without rights from the Auxiliary Business Development office or as an official sponsor through Utes Sports Properties. Group licensing runs through The Brandr Group (announced 2022-01-06); joining is voluntary and does not limit individual NIL rights. The university said on 2026-06-12 that Crimson Brand Partners, formed by the university and its foundation with Otro Capital, would begin operations on 2026-07-01 and "manage commercial operations across Utah Athletics and the broader university", including "branding, licensing and sponsorships"; the NIL licensing page has not been updated to name it | Utah Athletics, Licensing and Trademarks; Brandr Group release (2022-01-06); University of Utah, Crimson Brand Partners release (2026-06-12) |
| Revenue sharing | The athletic director wrote on 2025-06-09 that Utah was "all-in on investing up to the maximum allowable in revenue share, which is approximately $20.5 million for 2025-26", would add 23 scholarships and would "implement NIL contracts between the institution and student-athletes". The College Sports Commission lists Utah as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-21). Utah law lets the university pay athletes directly for NIL, but not from legislative appropriations or student fees (§ 53H-6-202(1), (2)) | Utah Athletics, letters from Mark Harlan (2025-06-09, 2025-08-14); College Sports Commission; /nil/college/utah |
| Collective or NIL group | Utah's Elevate U page lists three collectives "established to enhance Utah's student-athlete NIL activity": Crimson Collective, Who Rocks the House Collective and Running Hoops Collective. The athletic director wrote on 2025-01-09 that the settlement "allows universities to manage all of these operations" and that Utah would "take that great baton" the Crimson Collective was "handing to us". Crimson Collective's web address did not load on 2026-10-21, and no current status for the three was confirmed. Utah also runs the Elevate U Exchange marketplace on INFLCR | Utah Athletics, Elevate U; letter from Mark Harlan (2025-01-09); Connect with Student-Athletes |
| Agents and representation | Utah's policy lets athletes use professional service providers (agents, lawyers, marketing or brand managers, PR representatives) if they hold any required licenses, are "certified in Utah, or the state in which the individual is representing the student-athlete, if required", are paid the going rate, do not represent the athlete for professional sports, and complete an attestation; the athlete hands over licensing, agreement, work and payment records. Agents need Compliance Office permission before contacting an athlete, and the 2026-27 handbook says agents communicating with an athlete with remaining eligibility must hold a Utah "Athlete Agent License" and notify the Office of Athletics Compliance before contact. Utah law: athlete agents register with the Division of Professional Licensing, notice to the athletic director within 72 hours or before the next athletic event, and a 14-day right to cancel (Utah Code §§ 58-87-201, 58-87-302, 58-87-303) | Utah Athletics, NIL Policy and Procedure; Compliance, Agents; /nil/college/utah |
| Compliance contact | University of Utah Office of Athletics Compliance, 1825 E. South Campus Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84112; Delaney Reilly, Associate A.D. for Compliance, (801) 803-9727. The NIL disclosure page names Claire Stauber (cstauber@huntsman.utah.edu) and Jason Greco (jgreco@huntsman.utah.edu), listed on the compliance page as Executive Senior Associate A.D. for Governance and Brand Strategy, for disclosure questions | Utah Athletics, Office of Athletics Compliance; Compliance Disclosures |
| State law | Utah Code § 53H-6-202 (formerly § 53B-16-602, renumbered 2025-10-14) lets Utah institutions pay athletes directly for NIL except from appropriations or student fees, bans six deal categories and keeps NIL agreements out of GRAMA; status in force | /nil/college/utah |
What is specific to Utah
Utah is moving its commercial side into a separate company. The University of Utah Board of Trustees authorized the partnership on 2025-12-09, and on 2026-06-12 the university and its foundation announced they had finalized a deal with Otro Capital to form Crimson Brand Partners, set to begin operations on 2026-07-01 and manage events, branding, licensing and sponsorships, ticketing and digital media; the university says coaching, recruiting, student-athlete support and private fundraising stay with it. On 2026-07-10 Utah Athletics announced an agreement with JMI Sports to end its multimedia rights partnership, "clearing the way" for the new company, and its releases since then, including one on 2026-09-30, credit the Crimson Brand Partners team. On apparel, Utah's NIL policy (last updated 2024-08-01) says athletes "may not use their NIL to endorse any beverage companies other than Pepsi and the following apparel companies: Nike (including Jordan brand), Adidas, Lululemon, Reebok, New Balance, and Converse", citing "existing contractual obligations". On 2026-06-24 Utah announced adidas as "the official footwear, uniform, apparel and sideline partner of the Utes beginning with the 2027-28 school year", effective 2027-07-01, and said that "Once the partnership begins, all Utah student-athletes will be eligible to participate in adidas' wide-ranging NIL Ambassador Network". Utah has not published how the policy's list will change.
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 Utah
Does the University of Utah pay its athletes?
Yes. The athletic director wrote in 2025 that Utah would invest up to the maximum allowed in revenue share, about $20.5 million for 2025-26, and sign athletes to NIL contracts with the institution. The College Sports Commission lists Utah as participating in 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. Utah law allows direct NIL pay from the university, but not from legislative appropriations or student fees.
How do Utah Utes athletes report NIL deals?
Utah's NIL Policy and Procedure has athletes submit all NIL activities through the INFLCR app, five business days before the activity, and says contracts must be approved by the compliance office before signing. NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 separately call for reporting third-party deals of $600 or more to NIL Go within five business days. Utah's 2026-27 handbook still describes the 2024 state rule that athletes give the school any deal over $600 before signing it; the Utah state page records that rule's repeal in 2025.
What NIL deals are Utah athletes not allowed to sign?
Utah law bans deals promoting tobacco or vaping, alcohol, controlled substance sellers, gambling, sexually oriented businesses or firearms the athlete cannot legally buy. Utah's policy adds adult entertainment and casinos, and, citing existing contracts, says athletes "may not use their NIL to endorse any beverage companies other than Pepsi and the following apparel companies: Nike (including Jordan brand), Adidas, Lululemon, Reebok, New Balance, and Converse." Utah announced adidas as its outfitter from 2027-07-01.
What NIL collective works with Utah?
Utah's Elevate U page lists the Crimson Collective, Who Rocks the House Collective and Running Hoops Collective. In January 2025 the athletic director wrote that the university would take over the work the Crimson Collective had been doing once the House settlement allowed it. Current status of the three was not confirmed on 2026-10-21.
Can a Utah athlete hire an NIL agent?
Yes, under conditions in Utah's policy: the professional service provider holds any required licenses, is certified in Utah or the athlete's state if required, is paid the going rate, works only on NIL, and completes an attestation after the athlete discloses the deal. Utah law requires athlete agents to register with the Division of Professional Licensing.
Be your own agent. Leave.
