Ohio NIL Laws: Rules for College and High School Athletes

Ohio’s NIL Evolution

Ohio’s NIL landscape is defined by a sharp divide between aggressive collegiate deregulation and a recently-forced high school framework.

Ohio has emerged as a central battleground in the NIL revolution. With Ohio State as a national powerhouse and a landmark lawsuit reshaping high school NIL in late 2025, Ohio’s NIL landscape is among the most dynamic in the country. Here’s the complete guide to Ohio NIL laws.

Executive Order 2024-08D (November 2024) — College Revenue Sharing:

• Signed by: Governor Mike DeWine
• Direct institutional payments to athletes authorized
• ~$20.5 million annual revenue sharing cap (aligned with House v. NCAA)
• No state-allocated funds—must come from athletic department revenue
• Designed to give Ohio schools a competitive recruiting advantage

Brown v. OHSAA (October 2025) — High School NIL:

• Lawsuit by top-ranked recruit Jamier Brown challenged OHSAA’s NIL ban
• Court issued Temporary Restraining Order against OHSAA (October 20, 2025)
• Emergency referendum passed November 2025 (447 schools in favor)
• Ohio became the 45th state to allow high school NIL

Why Ohio Matters:

Ohio State is one of the nation’s most valuable athletic programs with a $280 million+ budget. With Big Ten powerhouses Ohio State and other programs like Cincinnati, Ohio’s NIL framework affects elite talent and shapes the national conversation on revenue sharing.

Ohio College NIL Rules

Ohio college athletes have strong NIL protections, with direct revenue sharing authorized by executive order.

What the Executive Order Guarantees:

• Universities can directly compensate athletes for NIL
• Revenue sharing aligned with House v. NCAA settlement (~$20.5M cap)
• Athletes can earn third-party NIL compensation
• Athletes can hire agents and legal representation
• NIL earnings cannot affect scholarship status
• No state tax dollars can be used—athletic department revenue only

House v. NCAA Settlement Framework:

• Schools can share ~22% of average Power 5 revenue with athletes
• $20.5 million annual cap per school (2025-26)
• Roster limits replace traditional scholarship limits
• NIL deals $600+ must go through clearinghouse for fair market value verification
• Effective July 1, 2025

Ohio State NIL Infrastructure:

• Buckeye Sports Group: Centralized NIL agency with Learfield partnership
• The 1870 Society: For-profit collective with subscription model
• Cohesion Foundation: 501(c)(3) non-profit matching athletes with causes
• Corporate partnerships (e.g., Chipotle) providing in-kind benefits
• Assistant AD of NIL for compliance and financial education

International Student Restrictions (F-1 Visa):

• F-1 visas prohibit “active employment” including most NIL activities
• International students can earn “passive” NIL income (licensing, jersey sales)
• Active NIL work only permitted in home country
• Violation can result in deportation and visa revocation

Ohio High School NIL Rules

Ohio high school athletes gained NIL rights in November 2025 through the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), following a court order. Ohio was the 45th state to allow high school NIL.

Key Facts:

• Governing Body: Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)
• Status: Legal with restrictions (effective November 2025)
• Framework: Bylaw 4-11 governs NIL/Personal Branding Rights

What OHSAA Allows:

• Earning income from personal branding
• Social media monetization
• Endorsement deals and sponsorships
• Autograph signings and personal appearances
• Content creation and licensing

Bylaw 4-11 Restrictions:

OHSAA maintains strict separation between athlete commercial activity and school identity:

Intellectual Property Ban: No OHSAA logos, school logos, mascots, nicknames, or trademarks

Facilities Prohibition: No NIL during school hours, travel, practices, games, or on school facilities

Collective Ban: NIL collectives strictly prohibited at high school level

Inducement Ban: NIL cannot be used to recruit or retain athletes at specific schools

Fair Market Value: Compensation must be for work actually performed

14-Day Disclosure Requirement:

• Students must disclose NIL agreements to OHSAA within 14 days of signing
• Failure to disclose can result in immediate ineligibility
• Athletic directors serve as compliance officers

Prohibited Categories:

• Gaming, gambling, and casinos
• Alcohol and tobacco (including vaping)
• Cannabis and controlled substances
• Adult entertainment
• Firearms

College vs. High School: Key Differences

Feature	College (EO 2024-08D)	High School (OHSAA)
Institutional Pay	Allowed ($20.5M cap)	Prohibited
Third-Party NIL Deals	Allowed	Allowed (restricted)
School Logos/Uniforms	Allowed	Prohibited
School Facilities	Permitted	Prohibited
Collectives	Integrated	Banned
Disclosure	Mandatory	14 days required
Pay-for-Play	Prohibited	Prohibited

The Key Distinction:

Ohio college athletes operate in a professionalized revenue-sharing model. Ohio high school athletes can now do NIL deals, but with strict separation from school identity—no logos, uniforms, or facilities. Collectives are banned at the high school level.

What Ohio Athletes Can Do

Both College and High School:

• Sign endorsement deals with brands
• Monetize social media accounts
• Earn from camps, clinics, and training
• Sell autographs and merchandise
• Make paid personal appearances
• Create and license content
• Build personal brands

College Only:

• Receive direct revenue sharing from institution
• Use school logos and uniforms in NIL content
• Use school facilities for NIL activities
• Participate in collective-organized NIL programs
• Hire agents and legal representation
• Receive fan support through platforms like RallyFuel

High School Only:

• Must conduct NIL outside school hours and facilities
• Must build personal brand separate from school identity
• Prepare for college NIL opportunities

What Ohio Athletes Cannot Do

College Athletes:

• Cannot accept pay-for-play (performance bonuses)
• Cannot hide NIL contracts from school (disclosure required)
• Cannot sign deals conflicting with school sponsorships
• International students (F-1 visa): Cannot engage in most active NIL on U.S. soil

High School Athletes:

• Cannot use OHSAA, school logos, mascots, or trademarks
• Cannot use school uniforms or facilities for NIL
• Cannot conduct NIL during school hours, practices, or games
• Cannot participate in NIL collectives
• Cannot accept recruiting inducements
• Cannot endorse gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, adult entertainment, or firearms

Both:

• Must pay taxes on NIL income (including self-employment tax)
• Must maintain academic eligibility
• Must follow governing body rules (NCAA/OHSAA)
• Cannot accept pay-for-play arrangements

Compliance Requirements

For College Athletes:

• Disclose all NIL contracts to your school’s compliance office
• Report deals $600+ through clearinghouse for fair market value verification
• Check for conflicts with existing school/conference sponsorships
• File taxes on all NIL income (expect 1099 for $600+)
• International students: Consult with university on F-1 visa restrictions
• Follow collective guidelines if participating

For High School Athletes:

• Disclose NIL agreements to OHSAA within 14 days of signing
• Never use school identifiers in NIL content
• Conduct all NIL outside school hours and facilities
• Avoid any collective involvement
• Keep records of all NIL income
• Failure to disclose can result in immediate ineligibility

For Parents:

• Review all contracts before your athlete signs
• Understand tax obligations (self-employment tax applies at 15.3%)
• Set aside money for taxes (25-30% recommended)
• Ensure compliance with OHSAA Bylaw 4-11 for high school athletes
• Be aware of HB 184 agent regulations and duration limits
• Consider consulting an attorney for significant deals

How Fans Support Ohio Athletes

Ohio has passionate college sports fans—from the Buckeye faithful to Cincinnati Bearcats supporters—and now they can directly support athletes through NIL.

College Athletes:

Platforms like RallyFuel enable Ohio fans to support athletes at:

• Ohio State – Big Ten
• Cincinnati – Big 12
• Ohio, Toledo, Kent State, Akron, Bowling Green, Miami (OH) – MAC
• Dayton, Xavier – Atlantic 10
• Cleveland State, Youngstown State – Horizon League / MVFC
• All sports, not just football and basketball

How It Works:

1. Create an account on RallyFuel.com or the mobile app
2. Select your Ohio school affiliation
3. Browse verified athletes currently on your program’s roster
4. Fuel athletes you want to support
5. Track your support through your fan dashboard

How It Works: When you purchase Fan Fuel, you’re purchasing Conditional NIL Engagement Rights (CNERs). If conditions are met, RallyFuel or its affiliate offers an NIL Agreement to the athlete. If conditions aren’t met—for example, if an athlete transfers—you receive an automatic refund.

Conditional Protection: RallyFuel’s conditional model protects Fan Fuel with automatic refunds if athletes transfer or conditions aren’t met. Ohio fans can support players without financial risk.

Important: Fan support through RallyFuel 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:

High school athletes in Ohio can now pursue NIL opportunities, but must maintain strict separation from school identity. The OHSAA’s Bylaw 4-11 requires athletes to disclose all agreements within 14 days and prohibits use of school logos, facilities, and collectives.

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.

Visit RallyFuel

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Ohio legalize NIL?

For college: Executive Order 2024-08D (November 2024) authorized direct revenue sharing. For high school: Brown v. OHSAA (October 2025) led to a court order, followed by an emergency OHSAA referendum in November 2025. Ohio was the 45th state to allow high school NIL.

Can Ohio high school athletes use their school logo for NIL?

No. OHSAA Bylaw 4-11 strictly prohibits using school logos, mascots, nicknames, trademarks, or uniforms for NIL activities. Athletes must build personal brands separate from their school identity.

Do Ohio athletes pay taxes on NIL income?

Yes. All NIL income is taxable, including self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security/Medicare). Athletes earning over $600 may receive 1099 forms. Ohio has state income tax, so both federal and state taxes apply.

How can fans support Ohio college athletes?

Fans can support Ohio college athletes directly through platforms like RallyFuel. When you purchase Fan Fuel, you’re purchasing Conditional NIL Engagement Rights (CNERs). If conditions are met, the athlete receives an NIL Agreement. If conditions aren’t met, you receive an automatic refund.

What is Ohio’s revenue sharing model?

Under Executive Order 2024-08D, Ohio colleges can directly pay athletes for NIL aligned with the House v. NCAA settlement. The cap is approximately $20.5 million per school annually. No state tax dollars can be used—funds must come from athletic department generated revenue (media rights, tickets, sponsorships).

Are NIL collectives allowed for Ohio high school athletes?

No. OHSAA Bylaw 4-11 explicitly bans NIL collectives at the high school level. Only individual third-party deals are permitted, and they must reflect fair market value for work actually performed.

What happens if an athlete I supported transfers?

If an athlete transfers or selects a different school during the conditional period, you receive an automatic refund to your original payment method. No manual request is required.

Ohio: The Crucible of NIL

With Ohio State as a national powerhouse, aggressive revenue-sharing legislation, and a landmark high school lawsuit, Ohio has emerged as a central battleground in the NIL revolution. From Columbus to Cincinnati, Ohio athletes have opportunities that continue to expand.

For college athletes ready to maximize their NIL potential, RallyFuel provides fan-powered support with conditional protection. Explore verified Ohio athletes and start fueling today.