NIL for college-bound athletes
High school NIL follows your state's rules. The moment your athlete heads to a Division I school, the NCAA and the College Sports Commission add their own. Here is what carries over.
01
Every deal worth $600 or more (added up per payer) entered since July 1, 2025 or the start of junior year, whichever is later, must be reported through NIL Go within 14 days of starting classes or before the first game. Keep a copy of every agreement and every payment now, not senior year.
02
Recruits enrolling on or after August 1, 2026 may hire agents under the April 15, 2026 Division I rule. The NJCAA still ends eligibility for a written agent agreement.
03
Under the age-based model adopted June 23, 2026, athletes get five years and should enroll by the academic year after they turn 19. It fully applies to recruits enrolling in fall 2027. A gap year can cost eligibility.
04
Since July 1, 2026, deals of $600 to $15,000 with boosters and collectives are not reviewed for pay range until an athlete passes $50,000 a year in those deals. Every deal still needs a real business purpose.
05
Enrolled Division I athletes report third-party deals of $600 or more within 5 business days. The 2026-27 revenue-share cap is about $21.3 million per school, reported separately through CAPS.
06
Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA allow NIL consistent with state law and have no dollar reporting threshold.
07
Still barred everywhere. Any NIL offer tied to choosing a college, or a high school, is a recruiting violation, not a deal.
08
There is no federal NIL law. The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act on September 28, 2026; the House has not acted, and it dies January 3, 2027 if not enacted. Executive Order 14400 (April 3, 2026) is in effect.
State college NIL laws still matter, especially for recruits: some bar schools from paying prospects, some require disclosing existing deals before signing a letter of intent. Each state page lists its college law.