Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Utah State University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Utah State University, its conference, the state of Utah 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 Utah State
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | The 2026-27 handbook points to "the USU NIL Policy for a full list of guidelines"; the fullest USU text found is the undated "Utah State University NIL Guidelines for NCAA Student-Athlete" on the university's brand site. It allows NIL pay "either in-kind or monetarily", requires pay from donors or sponsors to be "for the NIL activity", "fair market value" and not an inducement, bars NIL activity "while representing Utah State" (practice, conditioning, competition, team travel, sponsored promotions), and says USU, its athletic department and staff "may not compensate or arrange for compensation" for athlete NIL. Athletics also posts a shorter NIL FAQ (web address dated 2025-01-28) | Utah State University Brand, NIL Guidelines; Utah State Athletics, NIL FAQ and Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| How deals are disclosed | NIL Go for third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2); the 2026-27 handbook says the same. USU's NIL FAQ says the department "requires student-athletes to disclose all NIL deals with the USU Athletics Compliance Office" and that deals of $600 or more "must be disclosed in accordance with Utah H.B. 202". The brand-site guidelines say disclosure comes "prior to engaging in the activity", includes the contract, "is not an approval process", and that failing to disclose "may face penalties up to removal from their team and/or loss of athletic scholarships". Utah repealed H.B. 202's $600 disclosure rule effective 2025-05-07 | Utah State Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 and NIL FAQ; Utah State University Brand, NIL Guidelines; /nil/college/utah |
| Banned categories | Utah law bars NIL agreements promoting 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)); USU's NIL FAQ gives a similar list under H.B. 202 ("tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping products, alcohol, marijuana, antibiotics and steroids, gambling services, adult entertainment and firearms"). USU's guidelines add that athletes "are encouraged to participate in NIL activities with entities in categories that align with Utah State institutional values and refrain from contrary entities", naming gambling and sports wagering vendors, vendors tied to NCAA-banned substances and alcohol vendors | Utah State Athletics, NIL FAQ; Utah State University Brand, NIL Guidelines; /nil/college/utah |
| School marks and group licensing | "Except as expressly authorized in writing", USU trademarks, including its name, logos and facility names such as Maverik Stadium, may not be used in NIL activity; the FAQ refers questions to Aggie Sports Properties, "the exclusive athletics multimedia rightsholder", and the guidelines to USU's Trademark Licensing Office. Facilities may be rented at "the customary facility rental rate". A group licensing program is not published; the Utah State NIL Store (launched 2024-12-12) sells apparel that "is officially licensed by Utah State University" for athletes who opt in | Utah State Athletics, NIL FAQ and NIL Store release (2024-12-12); Utah State University Brand, NIL Guidelines |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists Utah State University as participating in 2026-27. USU Athletics' release of 2025-07-31 says "In response to the recently approved House settlement, Utah State Athletics will launch a revenue-sharing model and assume direct leadership of strategic roster support efforts" and created sport-specific recruitment and retention funds that "enable supporters to directly impact future revenue-sharing opportunities for student-athletes" in football and men's basketball. A USU men's basketball release of 2025-09-25 says all proceeds from an exhibition game would go into that team's recruitment and retention fund "to benefit internal name, image and likeness (NIL)". USU has not published a 2026-27 total or its division by sport | College Sports Commission; Utah State Athletics, releases (2025-07-31, 2025-09-25) |
| Collective or NIL group | Blue A Collective. USU's NIL FAQ calls it "the official NIL partner of Utah State Athletics"; USU announced it on 2023-09-09, co-founded by Eric Laub and former head football coach Gary Andersen, and a USU release of 2025-04-04 calls it "a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization". Its own site (read 2026-10-22) calls it the "proud NIL sponsor of USU Athletics" and "the first collective to sign a corporate partnership with LEARFIELD". No USU Athletics release after 2025-04-04 that names the collective was found in the news scan through 2026-10-22. USU also runs the Utah State NIL Exchange with Teamworks Influencer (launched 2024-10-22), through which the FAQ says fans "must request permission" to contact athletes for NIL | Utah State Athletics, NIL FAQ and releases (2023-09-09, 2024-10-22, 2025-04-04); Blue A Collective site |
| Agents and representation | The 2026-27 handbook says "USU Athletic Department policies require agents (and runners) to register with Compliance before a student-athlete may communicate or interact with that agent" through an Agent Registration Form. The brand-site guidelines permit professional advice "(e.g., accountants, attorneys, or agents)", say agents "should be registered to do business in Utah" and "should register with the Utah State Athletics Office of Compliance", and say USU will not take part in "the evaluation, recommendation, or selection" of providers. Utah law: athlete agents register with the Division of Professional Licensing, the athlete and agent notify the athletic director within 72 hours or before the next athletic event, and the athlete may cancel within 14 days | Utah State Athletics, Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; Utah State University Brand, NIL Guidelines; /nil/college/utah |
| Compliance contact | Utah State Athletics Compliance Office, Laub Athletics and Academics Complex, third floor, Logan. Tony Hearrell, Sr. Associate AD, Compliance and Student-Athlete Services, (435) 797-9448, tony.hearrell@usu.edu | Utah State Athletics, Compliance |
| State law | In force. Utah Code § 53H-6-202 (renumbered from § 53B-16-602 on 2025-10-14) lets Utah institutions pay athletes directly for NIL except from state appropriations or student fees, bans six deal categories and keeps NIL agreements out of GRAMA | /nil/college/utah |
What is specific to Utah State
Utah State's published NIL program leans on community service. The Blue A Collective, named for the "A" on Old Main that is lit blue after athletic victories, says on its own site that its mission is to help athletes earn from NIL "by providing opportunities to promote worthy charitable causes and make positive contributions to the Cache Valley community", and its 2025-01-21 announcement, posted on USU's athletics site, says contributions support "NIL partnerships tied to community service initiatives around Cache Valley". The collective and USU's Big Blue Club fundraise together: USU's 2025-04-04 release reports the "Match Madness" NIL campaign passing $1.5 million in cash and commitments. Then USU moved part of the work in-house. Its 2025-07-31 release says USU "will launch a revenue-sharing model and assume direct leadership of strategic roster support efforts", and it has since added an Associate AD for NIL (2025-08-07) and, with Aggie Sports Properties, a first-ever Associate NIL Business Development Manager (2026-08-03) to build corporate NIL partnerships and oversee "the fulfillment of NIL agreements". USU's own rules still differ by document: the handbook names NIL Go, the FAQ cites a repealed state disclosure rule, and the brand-site guidelines still mention Mountain West trademarks.
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 State
Does Utah State pay its athletes?
Utah State shares revenue. Its athletics release of 2025-07-31 says USU "will launch a revenue-sharing model and assume direct leadership of strategic roster support efforts", and the College Sports Commission lists USU as participating in 2026-27, with a cap of approximately $21.58 million per school. Utah law lets Utah institutions pay athletes directly for NIL, but not from state appropriations or student fees. USU has not published how much it shares or how it divides the money.
What NIL collective works with Utah State?
The Blue A Collective. USU's NIL FAQ calls it "the official NIL partner of Utah State Athletics", and a USU release of 2025-04-04 describes it as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It was announced in 2023 and was co-founded by Eric Laub and former Utah State football coach Gary Andersen.
How do Utah State athletes report NIL deals?
USU's 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook says athletes "must disclose all third-party NIL activities that equal or exceed $600 in value to NIL Go", matching NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 (within five business days). USU's NIL FAQ says the department requires disclosure of all NIL deals to its Compliance Office, and its brand-site guidelines ask for disclosure, with the contract, before the activity.
Can a business contact a Utah State athlete about an NIL deal?
USU's NIL FAQ says fans interested in partnering with USU athletes "must request permission through the Influencer Marketplace known as Utah State NIL Exchange", the Teamworks Influencer platform USU launched on 2024-10-22. USU Athletics and Aggie Sports Properties also employ an Associate NIL Business Development Manager who works with businesses on NIL partnerships (announced 2026-08-03).
Do agents for Utah State athletes have to register?
Yes, twice over. USU's 2026-27 handbook says agents and runners register with USU Compliance before an athlete may communicate with them. Utah law separately requires athlete agents to register with the Division of Professional Licensing before acting as an agent in Utah.
Be your own agent. Leave.
