High school NIL: Allowed

Ohio high school NIL rules

Yes. High school athletes in Ohio can take NIL deals, with conditions.

Tell the school: 14 days, to the OHSAA with a notarized affirmation
Agents: Allowed
If a rule is broken: Loss of eligibility
Reaches middle school: Yes

High school

Who sets the rules

Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)

The rule

OHSAA Bylaw 4-11 (Name, Image & Likeness / Personal Branding Rights) was adopted by emergency referendum; voting closed Nov. 21, 2025 (447 yes, 121 no, 247 abstain), effective immediately. Updated language, including an athlete-agent provision (4-11-8), was adopted in May 2026 (document dated May 20, 2026).

Tell the school

14 days, to the OHSAA with a notarized affirmation

Student must disclose each NIL agreement to the OHSAA within 14 days of entering it (Bylaw 4-11-3) via the OHSAA online reporting form/Personal Branding Rights portal, with a full copy of the agreement and a student-and-parent Affirmation page (OHSAA NIL Resource Center says the affirmation is signed by student and parent and notarized). Agent agreements must also be disclosed within 14 days (4-11-8). Late/non-disclosure: ineligibility up to 20% of the sport season plus Bylaw 11 penalties.

Off limits

No OHSAA or member-school names, logos, mascots, marks or implied endorsement; no deals provided, procured or facilitated by the school or its agents, including collectives, booster clubs, foundations, coaches, administrators; no NIL activity during school hours, team activities or travel to OHSAA events; no pay tied to athletic performance; no inducement to attend a school (transfer linked to NIL creates rebuttable presumption of recruiting violation under Bylaw 4-9); no benefit to school/team; prohibited categories: gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, banned/illegal substances, adult entertainment, firearms/weapons, anything OHSAA deems inappropriate. Pay-for-play and professional contracts remain barred.

Agents

Allowed

May 2026 update, Bylaw 4-11-8: agreement with an athlete agent as defined in ORC 4771.01 solely for marketing; must comply with ORC ch. 4771 and be disclosed to OHSAA within 14 days.

If a rule is broken

Any violation subject to Bylaw 11 penalties; Executive Director's Office may suspend participation while a violation is pending; failure to disclose = up to 20% of season ineligibility; school facilitating NIL to secure enrollment faces Bylaw 11 penalties up to membership review.

Middle school, club and travel ball

Bylaw governs students of OHSAA member schools (OHSAA regulates grades 7-12); the bylaw text does not distinguish 7-8 grade from high school. Nothing reaches non-school club play.

Recent changes

New bylaw adopted Nov. 2025 (effective immediately); revised language incl. agent provision adopted May 2026.

College state law

Law in force

The law

Ohio Rev. Code ch. 3376 (3376.01-3376.14; no 3376.05), as amended by HB 315 (eff. Apr. 3, 2025) and HB 184 / SB 56 (eff. Mar. 20, 2026)

Disclosure

ORC 3376.06(C): student-athlete planning a verbal or written NIL compensation contract must disclose it to a designated institutional official for review; institution must identify any conflict with its existing contracts; athlete may not sign a conflicting contract but may negotiate a revision; disclosed materials are confidential/not public records.

Schools paying athletes

Allowed: ORC 3376.09(A)(1) lets a state institution or private college compensate a student-athlete for NIL; 3376.09(B) bars using student fees to do so; 3376.03(E) bars athletic associations from preventing institutions from compensating athletes.

For high school recruits

No high-school provision. 3376.07(E): institutions may restrict additional contract categories only if communicated to the athlete before enrollment. 3376.13: NIL contracts with athletes under 18 require written parental/guardian consent. 3376.14(D) addresses contracts carried over by out-of-state transfers.

Recent changes

HB 184 (136th GA) amended 3376.01 and 3376.14 and SB 56 amended 3376.07, all effective Mar. 20, 2026 (3376.07 now lists restricted categories incl. marijuana, alcohol, tobacco/vape, adult entertainment, casinos/gambling).

NCAA Division I, everywhere

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.

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.

The full college-bound guide

Quick answers

Can high school athletes in Ohio make NIL money?

Yes. High school athletes in Ohio can take NIL deals, with conditions. OHSAA Bylaw 4-11 (Name, Image & Likeness / Personal Branding Rights) was adopted by emergency referendum; voting closed Nov. 21, 2025 (447 yes, 121 no, 247 abstain), effective immediately. Updated language, including an athlete-agent provision (4-11-8), was adopted in May 2026 (document dated May 20, 2026).

Do Ohio athletes have to tell the school about an NIL deal?

14 days, to the OHSAA with a notarized affirmation. Student must disclose each NIL agreement to the OHSAA within 14 days of entering it (Bylaw 4-11-3) via the OHSAA online reporting form/Personal Branding Rights portal, with a full copy of the agreement and a student-and-parent Affirmation page (OHSAA NIL Resource Center says the affirmation is signed by student and parent and notarized). Agent agreements must also be disclosed within 14 days (4-11-8). Late/non-disclosure: ineligibility up to 20% of the sport season plus Bylaw 11 penalties.

Does a travel ball or club deal count in Ohio?

State association rules follow the athlete, not where the deal came from. A deal through a travel team is fine as long as nothing ties back to the school team. Bylaw governs students of OHSAA member schools (OHSAA regulates grades 7-12); the bylaw text does not distinguish 7-8 grade from high school. Nothing reaches non-school club play.

Can a Ohio high school athlete use an agent for NIL?

Allowed. May 2026 update, Bylaw 4-11-8: agreement with an athlete agent as defined in ORC 4771.01 solely for marketing; must comply with ORC ch. 4771 and be disclosed to OHSAA within 14 days.

Sources

Last verified November 4, 2026. High school rule text: Bylaw 4-11 updated May 20, 2026; referendum closed Nov. 21, 2025.

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