If you’re a student-athlete, parent, or athletic director in Ohio, the past few months have brought seismic changes to the NIL landscape. What was once a distant conversation happening at the NCAA level has now landed squarely in your backyard, and it’s reshaping opportunities for athletes at every level, from high school gyms to college stadiums.
Ohio recently became the 45th state to allow high school athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, following an emergency vote by the Ohio High School Athletic Association in November 2025. At the same time, state legislators passed House Bill 315, which now permits Ohio colleges and universities to directly compensate student-athletes for NIL starting July 2025. These aren’t just policy shifts, they’re fundamental changes to how we think about amateur athletics, athlete rights, and the financial future of young competitors.
If you’re trying to make sense of what this means for you or the athletes in your program, this is your roadmap.
The High School NIL Revolution: From Courtroom to Reality
Let’s start with the most dramatic development: high school NIL in Ohio.
In October 2025, a Franklin County judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the OHSAA from enforcing its ban on high school NIL after a lawsuit was filed by the mother of Jamier Brown, a top wide receiver prospect who had already lost over $100,000 in potential earnings. Within weeks, the OHSAA held an emergency referendum among its 815 member schools. The result? 447 schools voted in favor of allowing NIL, 121 opposed, and 247 abstained.
What does this mean in practice?
High school athletes in Ohio can now enter NIL agreements for personal appearances, endorsements, digital marketing, and social media content. Your daughter who’s a star volleyball player can partner with a local sports clinic. Your son who plays basketball can work with a regional apparel brand. These opportunities weren’t legal just two months ago.
But there are guardrails… and they matter.
Ohio’s framework prohibits NIL deals involving gambling, adult content, alcohol, tobacco, and controlled substances. More importantly, Ohio is unique in prohibiting athletes from promoting or displaying NIL deals during team activities, practices, games, or tournaments. This means if your athlete has a Nike sponsorship, they can’t wear those branded shoes at practice. It’s a strict separation designed to preserve team integrity, but it also limits the commercial visibility that makes NIL deals attractive to brands in the first place.
The political battle isn’t over.
State Representative Adam Bird has already proposed legislation to ban high school NIL entirely, arguing that earning money isn’t what Ohio high school sports should be about. The bill could pass by late June 2026 and take effect 90 days later, potentially reversing NIL access by the start of the next school year. Meanwhile, the original lawsuit that sparked this change is still active, with a preliminary injunction hearing that could alter the current policy.
The message? This is fluid. Ohio families and athletic directors need to stay informed and engaged.
College NIL: Universities Can Now Pay Athletes Directly
While high school NIL grabbed headlines, an equally significant change happened at the college level.
House Bill 315 allows Ohio colleges and universities to directly compensate student-athletes for their NIL, with Ohio State announcing plans to begin direct payments starting July 1, 2025. Previously, schools could only facilitate third-party NIL deals through collectives. Now, they can be direct financial partners with their athletes.
Why does this matter?
For decades, the NCAA prohibited schools from paying athletes beyond scholarships. This legislation enhances institutions’ ability to retain top talent, provides additional revenue streams for student-athletes, and eliminates grey areas involving institutions, collectives, and athletes. It also means schools are now actively involved in determining which brands their athletes can align with, adding complexity to Title IX compliance and equity considerations.
For student-athletes, this is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it creates more stable, school-backed income opportunities. On the other, it adds institutional oversight to what was once a purely individual decision.
Protecting Athletes from Exploitation
Ohio lawmakers also passed House Bill 184 in November 2025, which ensures that NIL contracts automatically end when a student-athlete’s college eligibility ends. This was prompted by legal disputes like the one involving former Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Fanatics, where his NIL agreement extended into his NFL career.
State Senator Bill DeMora framed it clearly: athletes were being “used and abused and taken advantage of.” This legislation is designed to prevent agents and companies from locking young athletes into contracts that drain their earnings for years after college.
What This Means for Different Stakeholders
For High School Athletes and Families:
Start educating yourself now. Because most high school athletes are minors, contracts may be voidable, and businesses should require formal parental consent to reduce enforceability challenges. Understand that any deal you sign could be subject to OHSAA’s restrictions and potential legislative changes. Work with trusted advisors, coaches, attorneys, or NIL consultants, before signing anything.
Don’t just chase money. Think about brand alignment, long-term reputation, and whether a deal genuinely serves your athlete’s goals. A $2,000 sponsorship with a questionable brand can cost far more in the long run.
For Athletic Directors:
Your compliance obligations just increased dramatically. The OHSAA has committed to tracking NIL deals and ensuring recruiting and transfer bylaws are still enforced. You’ll need to educate coaches, staff, and student-athletes about the new rules. Consider developing internal policies for reviewing NIL contracts, even though your school can’t be directly involved in deals.
At the college level, institutions are now responsible for reviewing student-athletes’ NIL deals for conflicts and determining which brands athletes can align with, adding another layer to Title IX compliance. This is new territory, and it requires dedicated resources.
For College Athletes:
You now have the right to hire an agent or attorney to represent you in NIL deals, though you’re prohibited from using university facilities or logos without the school’s approval. Take advantage of this. Professional representation can mean the difference between a fair deal and an exploitative one.
Understand that your NIL opportunities are no longer just about third-party collectives. Your own university can now compensate you directly, which may come with different expectations and requirements. Ask questions. Know your rights. And remember that any NIL contract you sign will automatically terminate when your college eligibility ends—plan accordingly.
The Bigger Picture: Ohio as a Testing Ground
Ohio’s rapid NIL evolution isn’t happening in a vacuum. These changes mirror a broader national trend following the House v. NCAA settlement, which allows schools to share up to 22% of qualifying athletics revenue with student-athletes, capped at $20.5 million in the first year.
What makes Ohio interesting is how quickly it’s moving and how politically contested the terrain remains. With a potential ban on high school NIL looming in 2026, ongoing lawsuits, and colleges preparing for direct athlete payments, Ohio is essentially a laboratory for how states will balance athlete rights, amateurism traditions, and commercial realities.
For those of us working in this space, the lesson is clear: stay flexible, stay informed, and stay focused on what’s best for the athletes.
Moving Forward: Three Action Steps
1. Educate Yourself: Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or administrator, you need to understand the current rules and the potential changes on the horizon. The OHSAA has published detailed guidelines in their NIL Resource Center, use them.
2. Seek Professional Guidance: Don’t navigate NIL deals alone. Work with attorneys, agents, or trusted consultants who understand the legal landscape and can protect your interests.
3. Think Long-Term: NIL isn’t just about making money today. It’s about building a personal brand, developing financial literacy, and creating opportunities that extend beyond your playing career. Make decisions that serve your future, not just your present.
Ohio is reshaping the NIL landscape in real time, and the decisions being made right now will affect student-athletes for years to come. Whether you’re a high school sophomore fielding your first sponsorship inquiry or an athletic director overhauling your compliance program, this is your moment to get it right.
The rules are changing. The opportunities are real. And the stakes have never been higher.
What questions do you have about NIL in Ohio? The conversation is just beginning, and we’re here to answer your questions, explain the fine print, and help you make smarter decisions for your student-athletes.
Email us at [email protected] today or message us directly on Instagram @nil_doctor and get the support you need for your athletes before missteps happen!
