Indiana is one of the most polarized states in the NIL era. On the college side, Indiana University and Purdue are restructuring budgets and donor models around the House v. NCAA revenue-sharing cap. On the high school side, the IHSAA remains an “island of prohibition,” continuing to ban NIL monetization under strict amateurism bylaws.
That creates a stark two-track system: college = professionalizing fast, high school = no NIL allowed.
Here’s the complete guide to Indiana NIL rules.
Table of Contents
- Indiana’s NIL Leadership
- Indiana College NIL Rules
- Indiana High School NIL Rules
- College vs. High School: Key Differences
- What Indiana Athletes Can Do
- What Indiana Athletes Cannot Do
- Compliance Requirements
- How Fans Support Indiana Athletes
- Frequently Asked Questions
Indiana’s NIL Leadership
Indiana’s NIL landscape is defined by college-level professionalization driven by the House settlement and high school-level prohibition maintained by IHSAA rules.
House v. NCAA Settlement (2025)
- Direct revenue sharing authorized (~$20.5M annual cap)
- Schools can share ~22% of average Power 5 revenue with athletes
- Roster limits replace scholarship limits (football 105, all can be scholarshipped)
- $2.8B in back damages for athletes who played 2016–2024
- Effective July 1, 2025
Why Indiana Matters
Indiana has become a microcosm of the national shift:
- IU + Purdue: building salary-cap era front offices, funding models, and roster economics
- IHSAA: still treats NIL as “capitalizing on athletic fame,” prohibited under Rule 5
- Regional pressure is rising as nearby states adopt permissive high school NIL frameworks (notably Ohio’s “shock” legalization)
Indiana College NIL Rules
Indiana college athletes are operating in the post-House environment where revenue sharing and third-party NIL stack together.
What College Athletes Can Generally Expect (2025–26)
- Institutions can share up to ~$20.5M annually with athletes
- Third-party NIL remains allowed above revenue share (subject to clearinghouse review)
- Athletes can hire agents and attorneys
- NIL contracts must be disclosed and vetted for fair market value and valid business purpose under clearinghouse requirements
The NIL Go Clearinghouse (Post-House)
- Third-party NIL deals over $600 must be submitted
- Deals reviewed for:
Valid business purpose
Fair market value - Designed to prevent disguised pay-for-play and cap circumvention
- Prospective athletes must disclose contracts within set timelines around enrollment/competition
IU vs. Purdue: Two Different Strategies
Purdue — Consolidation Strategy
- Sunsetting its primary collective (Boilermaker Alliance) as of June 30, 2025
- Goal: reduce overhead and funnel donor dollars directly into athletic department compensation pools
- Added salary-cap style roles (resource management / internal control)
Indiana University — Hybrid Ecosystem
- Maintains active collectives (Hoosiers Connect, Hoosiers For Good)
- Uses a “Plus Model”:
University pays the base (revenue share cap)
Collectives provide additional third-party NIL above the cap - Implements “talent fees”/ticket surcharges and premium seating monetization to fund the new payroll reality
Mid-Major Reality (Indiana State Example)
- Opting into revenue sharing creates funding pressure without Big Ten revenue
- Shifts collectives under university foundation structures for oversight and (potentially) donor-friendly treatment
- Likely concentrates limited revenue share dollars on select sports rather than full-cap distribution
Indiana High School NIL Rules
Indiana high school athletes remain under a strict “Fortress of Amateurism.”
Key Facts
- Governing Body: Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)
- Status: NIL prohibited (as of late 2025)
- Framework: IHSAA By-Laws Rule 5 (Amateurism)
The Core Rule: “Capitalizing on Athletic Fame”
Rule 5 defines an amateur as someone competing solely for the benefits of participation and prohibits:
- Receiving money or gifts by capitalizing on athletic fame
- Accepting remuneration directly or indirectly connected to participation
- Signing professional contracts (automatic loss of amateur status)
The “Ponder and Research” Posture
IHSAA leadership has indicated ongoing review (“ponder and research”)—a signal of mounting pressure—without officially changing the prohibition framework.
Regional Pressure: The “Ohio Shock”
When Ohio moved to permit high school NIL in late 2025, Indiana’s prohibition became more isolated, increasing “border bleed” risk as athletes near state lines consider moving to monetize NIL.
College vs. High School: Key Differences
| Feature | College (House Era) | High School (IHSAA Rule 5) |
|---|---|---|
| NIL status | Legal (structured + vetted) | Prohibited |
| Institutional pay | Allowed (~$20.5M cap) | Prohibited |
| Third-party NIL | Allowed (clearinghouse review) | Prohibited |
| Collectives | Operational (varies by school) | Not applicable |
| School IP use | Allowed (policy-driven) | Not applicable |
| Disclosure | Required | N/A (because NIL banned) |
Key distinction: Indiana has a true cliff: college is professionalizing; high school is still “no NIL.”
What Indiana Athletes Can Do
College Athletes
- Receive institutional revenue sharing (if school opts in)
- Sign endorsement deals and third-party NIL (clearinghouse-reviewed)
- Monetize social media
- Earn from camps/clinics/training
- Sell autographs and merchandise
- Make paid appearances
- Hire agents and attorneys
- Participate in collective-organized NIL (if applicable)
- Receive fan support through platforms like RallyFuel (college-focused)
High School Athletes (IHSAA)
- Maintain eligibility only by remaining within strict amateurism rules
- Focus on non-monetized brand building (content creation without paid deals)
What Indiana Athletes Cannot Do
College Athletes
- Engage in pay-for-play structures (nominally prohibited)
- Hide NIL contracts from compliance
- Bypass clearinghouse review for deals over $600
- Sign deals conflicting with school sponsorships
High School Athletes
- Monetize NIL in ways tied to athletic fame (IHSAA Rule 5 prohibition)
- Accept money/gifts linked to their athlete identity (autographs, endorsements, sponsored posts, etc., if interpreted as athletic-fame capitalization)
Both
- Must maintain academic eligibility
- Must comply with taxes on any lawful income received (college NIL)
Compliance Requirements
For College Athletes
- Disclose NIL contracts to school compliance
- Submit deals over $600 to NIL Go clearinghouse for FMV review
- Check sponsorship conflicts
- Maintain documentation of deliverables
- File taxes (1099s common for $600+)
- International athletes (F-1): consult international office; most active NIL remains risky without DHS guidance
For High School Athletes
- Assume NIL monetization is prohibited unless and until IHSAA changes Rule 5
- Avoid compensated activities that could be interpreted as “capitalizing on athletic fame”
- If uncertain, consult athletic director before any paid public appearance or promotion
For Parents
- College: review contracts; set aside 25–35% for taxes depending on income
- High school: treat NIL as a strict no-go until rules change; avoid “border bleed” temptations that could jeopardize eligibility
How Fans Support Indiana Athletes
Indiana has passionate college sports fans—from Bloomington to West Lafayette—and fans can support athletes through NIL in college environments.
College Athletes
Fans can support athletes at:
- Indiana University (Big Ten)
- Purdue (Big Ten)
- Notre Dame (independent/ACC affiliates by sport)
- Indiana State and other in-state programs (conference-dependent)
- All sports, not just football and basketball
How It Works (RallyFuel)
- Create an account
- Select your Indiana school affiliation
- Browse verified athletes
- Purchase Fan Fuel
- Track support via dashboard
Conditional Protection: Fan Fuel creates Conditional NIL Engagement Rights (CNERs). If conditions aren’t met (including transfers), fans receive automatic refunds.
Important: Fan support is voluntary and conditional. Fuel purchases are not charitable donations. RallyFuel is not a guarantor that any athlete will accept an NIL Agreement. Purchasing Fan Fuel does not guarantee athletic performance, playing time, or any specific outcome.
High School Athletes
Because IHSAA prohibits NIL monetization, high school athletes cannot participate in collective-style NIL frameworks and must avoid compensation tied to athletic fame.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Indiana high school athletes do NIL?
As of late 2025, no. IHSAA Rule 5 prohibits “capitalizing on athletic fame,” which blocks most NIL monetization.
When did revenue sharing start for Indiana colleges?
The House settlement’s revenue-sharing framework became effective July 1, 2025.
What is NIL Go?
A clearinghouse system that reviews third-party NIL deals (typically over $600) for fair market value and valid business purpose.
Why did Purdue sunset its collective?
Purdue chose a consolidation approach to reduce overhead and channel donor dollars directly into athletic department compensation structures.
Why is Indiana still banning high school NIL?
IHSAA maintains a traditional amateurism model and has not yet adopted the “regulated NIL” frameworks used by most other states.
Indiana: The Great Divide State
Indiana’s 2025–26 landscape is defined by an extreme bifurcation: colleges are operating like salary-cap franchises under House-era revenue sharing, while high school athletes remain under a strict amateurism prohibition. The pressure to change is rising, but for now, Indiana remains one of the clearest examples of the new NIL divide in America.
Leave a Comment