Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Valparaiso University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Valparaiso University, its conference, the state of Indiana and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 23, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Valparaiso
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Valparaiso University NIL Policy", a one-page document linked from Valpo's NIL information pages (file created 2023-03-14). It says Valpo supports athletes earning NIL income and asks that "Student-athletes should discuss NIL agreements with their coaches and/or sport administrator prior to execution of the agreement", follow the NCAA's Institutional Involvement guidance, follow team rules on "portraying a positive image", and that the department follow Missouri Valley Conference, "Southland, MAC and Pioneer Football League policies related to NIL" | Valpo Athletics, Valparaiso University NIL Policy |
| How deals are disclosed | Valpo's NIL information page: deals made through the Valpo Exchange are paid directly to the athlete "without any transaction fee", "Compliance disclosure is automated through the INFLCR Verified Compliance Ledger", and athletes "who reach NIL agreements outside the Valpo Exchange should have the payer register with the Valpo Exchange and create the transaction through the exchange". Valpo's 2025-07-08 release says athletes "must now report third-party NIL agreements exceeding $600 within five business days", reviewed through NIL Go; NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 cover third-party deals of $600 or more, reported within five business days. Indiana law sets no NIL disclosure rule | Valpo Athletics, NIL Information for Student-Athletes, NIL Policy and opt-in release (2025-07-08); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | No Indiana statute lists NIL categories. Valpo's own list: Not published. Its policy refers athletes to team rules and to "Valparaiso University policy and ethics standards" | Valpo Athletics, Valparaiso University NIL Policy; /nil/college/indiana |
| School marks and group licensing | Not published as an NIL rule. The Valpo NIL Store with Campus Ink (announced 2024-10-09) sells athlete merchandise that "is officially licensed by Valparaiso University", and "Every student-athlete has the option to sign up". The athletics site links the university's brand tool kit for logos. A group licensing program is not published | Valpo Athletics, NIL Store release (2024-10-09) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists Valparaiso University as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at "approximately $21.58 million per school" (read 2026-10-23). Valpo's House Settlement FAQ says: "While the NCAA has established a national cap of $20.5 million per year per institution for such benefits, Valpo will operate well below this threshold" ($20.5 million was the 2025-26 cap). It calls the benefits "an option, not a requirement", and says the term revenue sharing "can be misleading, as most institutions do not have revenue to share". Gifts to a new Excellence Fund, including Men's and Women's Basketball Excellence Funds (launched 2025-11-20, tax-deductible), pay for "enhanced student-athlete benefits". No total or split by sport is published | Valpo Athletics, House Settlement FAQ, opt-in release (2025-07-08) and Basketball Excellence Funds; College Sports Commission |
| Collective or NIL group | Valpo's NIL page for businesses describes the Victory Bell Club as "a collective serving the local community by fostering partnerships between current Valpo student-athletes and local non-profits", "an independent 501(c)3 corporation and not a part of Valparaiso University". Its website showed only a private-site notice on 2026-10-23, and no newer Valpo source on it was found, so its current status is not confirmed | Valpo Athletics, NIL Information for Businesses and Other Entities |
| Agents and representation | Valpo's agent guide asks athlete agents, advisors and insurance providers to register with the Athletics Compliance Office, get permission from the director of athletics or a designee before contacting an athlete, and copy correspondence to the athletics director or compliance office; the compliance site posts a Sport Agent Registration Form. Indiana law (IC 25-5.2): athlete agents, including for endorsement contracts, register with the attorney general for two years, and the athlete has 14 days to cancel | Valpo Athletics, Compliance Agents and Advisors page and Student-Athlete Guide to Agents and Advisors; /nil/college/indiana |
| Compliance contact | Valpo Athletics Compliance (valpoathletics.com, Compliance). Harley King, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and NIL (named 2026-08-20), Harley.King@valpo.edu; Merce Poindexter, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare and Compliance, (219) 464-5424 | Valpo Athletics, Compliance page, Staff Directory and King release (2026-08-20) |
| State law | No statute. Indiana has passed no college NIL statute; its athlete agent act (IC 25-5.2) covers agents for endorsement contracts at public and private schools alike, with attorney general registration and a 14-day cancellation right | /nil/college/indiana |
What is specific to Valparaiso
Valpo, which describes itself as "a comprehensive, independent Lutheran university", is a Valley member whose football team plays in the Pioneer Football League, and it frames its NIL and revenue-sharing choices around its mission. Its House Settlement FAQ says the decision to opt in was "guided by mission, not pressure", that Valpo will operate "well below" the $20.5 million cap it cites, and that new external funding means "not drawing from the current University budget"; its opt-in release says roster grandfathering for Designated Student-Athletes was "of critical importance in Valpo's decision to opt in". For deals, Valpo built its own channel rather than relying on a collective: the Valpo Exchange, a registry in the INFLCR app where local businesses find athletes, pay them directly with no fee and receive one 1099 a year, and where coaches may point athletes to opportunities but "CANNOT negotiate deals or contracts". In August 2026 Valpo created a dedicated post, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and NIL.
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 Valparaiso
Does Valparaiso pay its athletes?
Valpo opted in to the House settlement model on 2025-07-01, and the College Sports Commission lists Valparaiso University for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. Valpo's House Settlement FAQ says it will operate well below the $20.5 million cap it cites (the 2025-26 figure) and will pay for enhanced benefits with new external funding, including gifts to its Excellence Funds, rather than the university budget. It has not published amounts or a split by sport.
What is the Valpo Exchange?
Valpo's NIL business registry inside the INFLCR app. Registered businesses search for and contact Valpo athletes, deals are paid directly to the athlete with no transaction fee, disclosure to compliance is automated, and each athlete gets one 1099 a year for Exchange deals.
Is there an NIL collective for Valpo Beacons?
Valpo's NIL page names the Victory Bell Club, an independent 501(c)(3) that pairs Valpo athletes with local nonprofits and, the page says, gives athletes "the opportunity to receive compensation for community-conscious representation". Its website showed only a private-site notice on 2026-10-23, so its current activity is not confirmed.
How do Valpo athletes report NIL deals?
Deals through the Valpo Exchange are disclosed automatically in INFLCR, and Valpo asks athletes with outside deals to have the payer register and run the deal through the Exchange. Valpo's policy also asks athletes to discuss agreements with their coach or sport administrator before signing. Third-party deals of $600 or more also go to NIL Go within five business days under NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2.
Does Indiana have an NIL law that covers Valparaiso?
No. Indiana has no college NIL statute, which Valpo's own NIL page also says. Indiana's athlete agent act applies to agents who negotiate endorsement deals, and Valpo asks agents and advisors to register with its compliance office.
Be your own agent. Leave.
