Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Wisconsin-Madison, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what University of Wisconsin-Madison, its conference, the state of Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Policy" in the UW-Madison 2026-27 Student-Athlete Policies and Procedures (posted 2026-08-31). It defines "Official Team Activities" (team-organized activities, practices, games, department camps and clinics; athletics-related photographs; interviews, press conferences, public appearances and acting as a team representative) and "Third-Party NIL Activity", says the department will provide NIL education and help with disclosure, and says NIL pay "is not a financial aid grant under Wisconsin state law" but may affect Pell and need-based aid. The policy is "subject to governing state and federal law" and CSC, NCAA and Big Ten rules | UW-Madison, 2026-27 Student-Athlete Policies and Procedures, NIL Policy |
| How deals are disclosed | The policy says "Student-athletes must disclose agreements for Third-Party NIL Activities to the University before entering into the agreement" and "are required to report all agreements for Third-Party NIL Activities to the NCAA-designated name, image, and/or likeness clearinghouse"; failure "may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to loss of eligibility". NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2 set NIL Go reporting of third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days. State law also requires disclosure before entering a deal (§ 36.11(12)(g)) | UW-Madison NIL Policy § V; NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27; Wis. Stat. § 36.11(12)(g) |
| Banned categories | The policy bars third-party NIL deals that conflict with University or UW System contracts or policies (including any requirement to wear or display brands during Official Team Activities), that endorse cigarettes, tobacco, electronic vaping devices, alcoholic beverages, gambling (including sports betting and casino gambling), banned athletic substances, any illegal substance or illegal activity, or "any other activity prohibited by the University or UW System", that contain obscene, indecent or profane material, that ridicule or demean people on protected grounds, or that "would adversely affect the University's reputation". The statutory list is in § 36.11(12)(h) | UW-Madison NIL Policy § IV; Wis. Stat. § 36.11(12)(h) |
| School marks and group licensing | Athletes may identify themselves as UW-Madison athletes in third-party NIL. University marks, logos, phrases and other intellectual property may be used only if the rights are secured through Badger Sports Properties or the Office of Trademark Licensing, which may license retail products. Athletic Department facilities may be used for third-party NIL only through Badger Sports Properties, and other University facilities may not be used | UW-Madison NIL Policy § III |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a participating school. Athletic Director Chris McIntosh wrote on 2024-10-22 that UW was "supportive of sharing revenue with student-athletes" and planned to keep its 23 sports. The 2026-27 Policies and Procedures says the settlement "has resulted in a shared revenue structure" and that UW's academic (Alston) awards "will not continue beyond the 2024-25 academic year". Wisconsin law lets the Board of Regents pay athletes for NIL (§ 36.11(12)(b)) and closes NIL agreement terms to public records requests (§ 36.11(12)(i)). No figures are published | College Sports Commission; Wisconsin Athletics, "An Update from Chris McIntosh" (2024-10-22); 2026-27 Policies and Procedures |
| Collective or NIL group | Not published. Wisconsin Athletics' NIL pages read on 2026-10-21 name no collective. Its own program is Badger Athlete Partners, announced 2025-12-17 by Wisconsin Athletics and Learfield's Badger Sports Properties, which "will consolidate the existing NIL revenue generation efforts within Badger Sports Properties" and adds five dedicated NIL positions for deal facilitation and management, content creation and storytelling, supported by Learfield Impact NIL services. The NIL page for businesses lists an athlete marketing team and an NIL interest form | Wisconsin Athletics release (2025-12-17); NIL page; NIL business guide (2026) |
| Agents and representation | The policy says athletes "may obtain professional representation (agent or licensed attorney) for marketing and facilitation of payments" for NIL, "as permitted under NCAA and CSC rules". State law bars UW from prohibiting NIL representation (§ 36.11(12)(c)2.), and athlete agents, including for endorsement contracts, register with the Department of Safety and Professional Services under Wisconsin's Uniform Athlete Agents Act, with a 14-day right to cancel | UW-Madison NIL Policy § VI; Wis. Stat. §§ 36.11(12)(c)2., 440.99 to 440.9975 |
| Compliance contact | UW-Madison Compliance Office, "Under the umbrella of Governance & Regulatory Affairs". The staff directory lists Joel Ott, Assistant Athletic Director - Compliance, 608-262-4985, JMO@athletics.wisc.edu. The 2026 NIL business guide names Brian Mason, Director, NIL Strategy, BM3@athletics.wisc.edu, 608-279-8659 | Wisconsin Athletics, Compliance page and Staff Directory; NIL Business Guide (2026) |
| State law | In force since 2026-04-10. Wis. Stat. § 36.11(12) (2025 Act 203) lets the UW Board of Regents pay athletes for NIL, requires disclosure of third-party deals before signing, bars set categories and closes NIL agreement terms to public records | /nil/college/wisconsin |
What is specific to Wisconsin
Wisconsin's written NIL policy follows the state statute closely. 2025 Wisconsin Act 203, in force since 2026-04-10, has UW athletes disclose third-party deals before entering them, bars deals that endorse tobacco, vaping, alcohol, gambling or banned substances, and lets the board define "official team activities"; UW-Madison's 2026-27 policy repeats each of these, adds its own definition of Official Team Activities that includes athletics-related photographs and public appearances, and adds bars on obscene or demeaning content and deals that "would adversely affect the University's reputation". On the commercial side, the policy routes use of University marks and athletic facilities through Badger Sports Properties, the same Learfield unit that since 2025-12-17 runs Badger Athlete Partners, Wisconsin's in-house NIL deal program. The department is also in a leadership change: on 2026-04-13 the Big Ten named Chris McIntosh, Wisconsin's director of athletics since 2021, its Deputy Commissioner for Strategy from 2026-05-01, and on 2026-07-07 the University introduced Shawn Eichorst as its new director of athletics.
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 Wisconsin
Does Wisconsin pay its athletes?
The College Sports Commission lists UW-Madison as a participating school for 2026-27, when the revenue-sharing cap is approximately $21.58 million per school, and UW's 2026-27 Policies and Procedures refers to the settlement's "shared revenue structure". Wisconsin law has allowed the UW Board of Regents to pay athletes for NIL since 2026-04-10 (§ 36.11(12)(b)). UW publishes no amounts, and NIL agreement terms are closed to public records requests (§ 36.11(12)(i)).
Do Wisconsin athletes have to tell UW about NIL deals before signing?
Yes. UW-Madison's policy says athletes "must disclose agreements for Third-Party NIL Activities to the University before entering into the agreement", and Wis. Stat. § 36.11(12)(g) says the same. Third-party deals of $600 or more also go to NIL Go within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2).
What NIL deals are banned at Wisconsin?
UW's policy and state law bar endorsing cigarettes, tobacco, vaping devices, alcohol, gambling including sports betting and casinos, banned athletic substances, and illegal substances or activities. UW's policy also bars deals that conflict with University contracts, contain obscene or demeaning content, or would adversely affect the University's reputation.
What is Badger Athlete Partners?
Badger Athlete Partners is Wisconsin's NIL deal program with Learfield's Badger Sports Properties, announced 2025-12-17. Wisconsin says it consolidates NIL revenue generation within Badger Sports Properties and adds five NIL positions for deal facilitation and management, content creation and storytelling.
Can Wisconsin athletes use Badgers logos in NIL deals?
Only if the rights are secured through Badger Sports Properties or the University's Office of Trademark Licensing, according to UW's NIL policy. Athletes may say they are UW-Madison athletes without that approval, and athletic facilities are available for NIL only through Badger Sports Properties.
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