Wyoming NIL Laws: Rules for College and High School Athletes

Wyoming = “Frontier Model” — NO state NIL statute (“Legislative Silence”). State-subsidized athletics: $11.2M block grant + $5M matching + $3-6M new request. “1Wyo” collective (charitable alignment, “307 Campaign”). ~$1.4-1.5M NIL budget + $2.8M revenue sharing (2025-26). “Five-Sport” stratification (Football, M/W Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling). 0% state income tax (“Tax Haven Pitch”). “Valuation Inversion”: FCS Montana/Montana State outspending UW. WHSAA high school NIL = PROHIBITED (“NIL Desert”). Here’s the complete guide.

Wyoming’s NIL Evolution

Wyoming = “Frontier Model” of NIL adaptation. Legislative silence + state-subsidized revenue sharing + charitable collective alignment + regulatory disconnect between collegiate and interscholastic levels.

NO State NIL Statute — “Legislative Silence”:

• No bill governing NIL proposed or enacted in Cheyenne (as of 2025)
• Distinguishes Wyoming from CO, NE, UT (all have codified frameworks)
• Strategic risk: Bypassed cycle of obsolescence (early restrictive laws)
• UW operates solely under NCAA Interim Policies
• Maximum flexibility but NO “safe harbor” protection
• Unlike MO, TX: No state sovereignty shield against NCAA enforcement

State-Subsidized Athletics — “Public Purse”:

• UW Athletics Dept. total expense budget: ~$53M
• Current state block grant: ~$11.2M annually
• Matching fund payout: $5M/year (contingent on raising matching funds)
• NEW request (late 2025): Additional $3-6M annually
• Total potential state contribution: ~$20M/year
• AD Tom Burman: Request explicitly framed as response to “exploding NIL”
• Threatened “draconian cuts” if not funded (sport eliminations, scholarship reductions)

“Josh Allen Effect” — Cultural Capital:

• Former UW QB = global visibility for state
• Football program = state’s primary marketing engine
• NIL subsidy framed as “maintenance cost” for public asset (not “paying players”)
• Athletics occupies “protected tier” despite Freedom Caucus fiscal conservatism

“1Wyo” Collective — Charitable Alignment:

• Non-profit corporation (NOT commercial aggregator)
• Mission: “Promoting and strengthening local charitable organizations”
• Athletes compensated for charity work (Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers Big Sisters, food banks)
• “Sanitizes” transaction: Community altruism vs. “pay-for-play”
• Adaptation to donor psyche: Cultural resistance to player payments
• Cody Tucker (7220Sports): “Some people just cannot live with the idea that they’re paying a player”

“307 Campaign” — Grassroots Funding:

• Named for Wyoming’s single area code
• Solicits recurring donations of $307 from broad fan base
• Crowdfunding approach: Aggregate 575,000 residents’ spending power
• Limitation: “Struggled” to get fans to invest (2022-mid 2025)
• Total NIL budget: ~$1.4-1.5M annually

House Settlement — Revenue Sharing Pivot:

• Opt-in decision = “no-brainer” (AD Burman)
• Opt-out = immediate competitive obsolescence + legal exposure
• 2025-26 revenue sharing budget: ~$2.8M
• Only ~13% of permissible $20.5M cap
• Ohio State, Texas will likely max out cap
• Illustrates “haves vs. have-nots” chasm

“Five-Sport” Stratification:

• Revenue sharing contracts offered primarily to 5 sports:
• Football (65-80% of department revenue)
• Men’s Basketball
• Women’s Basketball (Title IX)
• Volleyball (Title IX + regional engagement)
• Wrestling (cultural importance in Mountain West)
• Creates two-tiered system: “Revenue Five” = semi-professional; others = traditional amateur

“Valuation Inversion” — FCS Threat:

• FCS Montana + Montana State: ~$2.2M NIL/roster spending
• UW (FBS): ~$1.4M
• FCS schools OUTSPENDING lower-tier FBS
• Challenges fundamental FBS/FCS hierarchy
• AD Burman: Discussed “relegation model” or “Super League” breakaway risk
• “Josh Allen” era raised expectations; NIL era threatens regional obscurity

0% State Income Tax — “Tax Haven Pitch”:

• Wyoming = one of 9 states with no state income tax
• $50K NIL in WY yields higher net than $60K in CA (13% state tax)
• “Purchasing power” argument = tie-breaker vs. Boise State, Colorado State
• Limited effectiveness: Cannot overcome Power 4 gross pay disparities

Creative Differentiation — “Dairy Cow” + Rodeo:

• “Dairy Cow” campaign: Football players + live cow + Dairy MAX (chocolate milk)
• Viral “on-brand” marketing for “Cowboys”
• Rodeo = marquee sport with NIL potential (CNFR in Casper)
• CNFR round winners: $36,000+ payouts
• Rodeo athletes = Tier 1 assets (integrated with 1Wyo, Dairy MAX)
• Niche dominance: Top western sports talent recruitment

Why Wyoming Matters:

Wyoming = “Frontier Model” (legislative silence + state subsidies + charitable collective). NO state NIL statute. State support: $11.2M block + $5M matching + $3-6M new request. “1Wyo” collective (non-profit, charitable alignment). ~$1.4-1.5M NIL + $2.8M revenue sharing (~13% of cap). “Five-Sport” stratification. “Valuation Inversion”: FCS outspending UW. 0% state income tax. WHSAA high school NIL = PROHIBITED.

Wyoming College NIL Rules

No state statute = governed by NCAA Interim Policies. State-subsidized revenue sharing model. “1Wyo” charitable collective.

What Wyoming Offers:

• Maximum flexibility (no restrictive state law)
• 0% state income tax (“Tax Haven Pitch”)
• “1Wyo” charitable collective
• Creative “Cowboy” branding (Dairy Cow, Rodeo)
• Note: ~$2.8M revenue sharing budget (~13% of $20.5M cap)

UW Infrastructure:

• “1Wyo” = non-profit, charitable alignment
• “307 Campaign” = grassroots crowdfunding ($307 recurring)
• “Five-Sport” stratification for revenue sharing
• Rodeo athletes = Tier 1 assets (CNFR)

Wyoming High School NIL Rules

WHSAA (Wyoming High School Activities Association) maintains PROHIBITION on NIL. Wyoming = one of few remaining “NIL Deserts” in the United States.

Key Facts:

• Governing Body: Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA)
• Status: PROHIBITED
• 2025-2026 Handbook: Strict amateurism rules

WHSAA Prohibition:

NIL monetization remains PROHIBITED for prep athletes. Students cannot capitalize on their athletic fame. 2025 proposal to permit NIL was DEFEATED. Commissioner Trevor Wilson: Adoption is “a matter of time” but current status quo = restrictive.

Rural-Urban Divide:

High number of 1A classification schools (29 in smallest basketball class). Many in remote rural areas. Fear: NIL would exacerbate imbalance between “rich” districts (Casper, Cheyenne, Gillette with oil/gas/coal revenue) and smaller rural programs. “Free agency” fear: Wealthy boosters inducing transfers from rural communities. Travel costs already primary WHSAA concern.

“NIL Desert” — Pipeline Crisis:

Wyoming joins shrinking minority with Alabama. Permitted neighbors: Colorado, Nebraska, Utah. Top talent incentivized to transfer to prep schools in neighboring states (e.g., IMG Academy FL, schools in CO). Drains local talent pool before UW can recruit. Forces UW to rely on transfer portal + out-of-state recruiting (more expensive, less reliable).

College vs. High School: Key Differences

Feature	College (No State Statute)	High School (WHSAA)
NIL Status	Legal (NCAA interim policy)	PROHIBITED
State Statute	NONE ("Legislative Silence")	WHSAA Handbook (strict)
State Subsidies	~$16-20M annually	N/A
State Income Tax	0%	0%
Collective Model	1Wyo" (charitable)	N/A (prohibited)
Revenue Sharing	~$2.8M (2025-26)	N/A
Safe Harbor	NO (no state law)	N/A
Pipeline Impact	N/A	NIL Desert" brain drain

The Key Distinction: Wyoming = “Frontier Model” (legislative silence + state subsidies + charitable collective). NO state NIL statute. “1Wyo” (non-profit, charitable alignment). ~$2.8M revenue sharing (~13% of cap). “Five-Sport” stratification. 0% state income tax. WHSAA high school NIL = PROHIBITED (“NIL Desert”).

What Wyoming Athletes Can Do

College Athletes (UW):

• Earn NIL compensation (NCAA interim policy)
• Work with “1Wyo” collective (charitable model)
• Participate in “307 Campaign” activities
• Sign endorsement deals (Dairy MAX, agriculture)
• Monetize social media accounts
• Receive revenue sharing (if in “Five-Sport” tier)
• Earn from camps, clinics, appearances
• Rodeo athletes: CNFR payouts ($36K+ for round winners)
• Receive fan support through platforms like RallyFuel.

High School Athletes:

NIL = PROHIBITED. Cannot capitalize on athletic fame. Cannot accept payments for endorsements. Wyoming = “NIL Desert.”

What Wyoming Athletes Cannot Do

College Athletes:

Cannot endorse:

• gambling, tobacco, adult entertainment, controlled substances (NCAA rules)

International students (F-1 visa):

• Cannot engage in active NIL on U.S. soil
• No state “safe harbor” protection from NCAA enforcement.

High School Athletes:

• Cannot capitalize on athletic fame in ANY way
• Cannot accept money or gifts for athletic identity
• Cannot sign commercial endorsements
• Cannot monetize social media as athlete
• Risk amateur status for ANY NIL activity.

Both:

• Must pay federal taxes (0% state income tax)
• Must maintain academic eligibility.

Compliance Requirements

For College Athletes:

• Work with “1Wyo” collective (charitable alignment)
• Understand “Five-Sport” stratification (Football, M/W Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling)
• Participate in “307 Campaign” activities
• Understand no state “safe harbor” (NCAA enforcement exposure)
• Rodeo athletes: Leverage CNFR platform.

For High School Athletes:

• DO NOT engage in any NIL activity
• DO NOT accept money or gifts for athletic fame
• DO NOT sign commercial endorsements
• DO NOT monetize social media as athlete
• Risk amateur status for ANY NIL activity.

For Parents:

For college:

• No state NIL statute = NCAA policy governs
• State subsidies: $11.2M + $5M matching + $3-6M new request
• “1Wyo” = non-profit, charitable alignment
• ~$2.8M revenue sharing (~13% of cap)
• “Five-Sport” stratification; 0% state income tax = recruiting advantage
• “Valuation Inversion”: FCS schools outspending UW

For high school:

• WHSAA = NIL PROHIBITED
• Wyoming = “NIL Desert”
• 2025 proposal to permit NIL was defeated
• Top talent may transfer to CO, NE, UT for senior year
• Risk amateur status for ANY NIL activity.

How Fans Support Wyoming Athletes

Wyoming has passionate Cowboy and Cowgirl fans—and now they can directly support athletes through NIL.

College Athletes:

Platforms like RallyFuel enable Wyoming fans to support athletes at:

• University of Wyoming – Mountain West Conference
• All sports—Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling, Rodeo, and more

Wyoming NIL Infrastructure:

“1Wyo” Collective: Non-profit corporation. Charitable alignment (Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers Big Sisters). Athletes compensated for community work. “Sanitizes” pay-for-play concerns. “307 Campaign”: Named for Wyoming’s area code. Recurring $307 donations. Crowdfunding approach. State Subsidies: $11.2M block grant. $5M matching fund. $3-6M new request (2025-26). Creative Differentiation: “Dairy Cow” campaigns. Rodeo integration (CNFR). “Cowboy” brand leverage.

How It Works:

1. Create an account on RallyFuel.com or the mobile app
2. Select University of Wyoming
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. Wyoming 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:

Wyoming high school athletes CANNOT pursue NIL opportunities. WHSAA maintains strict prohibition. Any monetization = loss of amateur status.

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

Can Wyoming high school athletes do NIL?

NO. WHSAA maintains strict prohibition. Students cannot capitalize on athletic fame. 2025 proposal to permit NIL was DEFEATED. Wyoming = “NIL Desert” (joins shrinking minority with Alabama). Commissioner Trevor Wilson: Adoption is “a matter of time” but current status = restrictive. Pipeline crisis: Top talent may transfer to CO, NE, UT for senior year.

Why doesn’t Wyoming have a state NIL statute?

“Legislative Silence” = calculated strategic risk. Early state NIL laws (AL, FL) became obsolete liabilities. By avoiding early regulation, Wyoming bypassed repeal/amend cycle. UW operates solely under NCAA Interim Policies (maximum flexibility). Trade-off: NO “safe harbor” protection (unlike MO, TX with state sovereignty shields). Legislature focused on direct subsidization instead of regulation.

What is the “Valuation Inversion”?

FCS schools OUTSPENDING lower-tier FBS. Montana + Montana State (FCS Big Sky): ~$2.2M NIL/roster spending. Wyoming (FBS Mountain West): ~$1.4M. Challenges fundamental FBS/FCS hierarchy. Wealthy FCS donor bases (passionate, concentrated) outspending diffused FBS donors. AD Burman: Discussed “relegation model” or “Super League” breakaway risk. “Josh Allen” era raised expectations; NIL era threatens regional obscurity.

What is the “1Wyo” collective model?

Non-profit corporation (NOT commercial aggregator). Mission: “Promoting and strengthening local charitable organizations.” Athletes compensated for charity work (Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers Big Sisters, food banks). “Sanitizes” transaction: Community altruism vs. “pay-for-play.” Adaptation to donor psyche: Cultural resistance to player payments. “307 Campaign”: Crowdfunding ($307 recurring from broad fan base). Limitation: ~$1.4-1.5M annual NIL budget (“struggled” 2022-mid 2025).

What is Wyoming’s “Tax Haven Pitch”?

Wyoming = one of 9 states with 0% state income tax. $50K NIL in WY yields higher net than $60K in CA (13% state tax). “Purchasing power” argument used to close gap with mid-tier competitors. Effective as tie-breaker vs. Boise State, Colorado State. Limited effectiveness: Cannot overcome Power 4 gross pay disparities (they can increase offer to offset tax difference).

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.

Wyoming: The Frontier Model of NIL

Wyoming = “Frontier Model” of NIL adaptation—legislative silence + state-subsidized revenue sharing + charitable collective alignment + regulatory disconnect. NO state NIL statute (distinguishes WY from CO, NE, UT). State subsidies: $11.2M block grant + $5M matching fund + $3-6M new request (late 2025) = ~$20M potential annual contribution. “Josh Allen Effect”: Football = state’s primary marketing engine. “1Wyo” collective: Non-profit, charitable alignment (Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers Big Sisters); “307 Campaign” crowdfunding; ~$1.4-1.5M annual NIL budget. House settlement: ~$2.8M revenue sharing (2025-26) = only ~13% of $20.5M cap. “Five-Sport” stratification (Football, M/W Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling). “Valuation Inversion”: FCS Montana/Montana State (~$2.2M) OUTSPENDING UW (~$1.4M). 0% state income tax = “Tax Haven Pitch” (tie-breaker vs. Boise State, Colorado State). Creative differentiation: “Dairy Cow” campaigns, Rodeo integration (CNFR $36K+ payouts). WHSAA high school NIL = PROHIBITED (“NIL Desert”); 2025 proposal defeated; pipeline crisis (brain drain to CO, NE, UT).

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