A
Join waitlist →
What is NIL

NIL, in plain English.

Since 2021, college athletes can earn from their personal brand. The rules matter — and we enforce them automatically so you never have to worry.

Definition

NIL = Name, Image, Likeness.

Starting in 2021, the NCAA allowed college athletes to earn money by licensing their personal brand to companies. Here's what that means and what you can actually do.

Before 2021

College athletes couldn't earn from endorsements. A Nike executive couldn't pay an Ohio State quarterback to wear Nike gear. It was illegal. Full stop.

Today

You can get paid by brands to post on social media, make appearances, train with a brand's products, or represent them in any way that doesn't violate NCAA or your state's rules.

✓Allowed
What you can do.
Brand endorsements (Nike, Red Bull, GoPro, etc.)
Social media posts promoting products
Personal appearances & meet-and-greets
Training camps & skill clinics
Autograph signings
YouTube/TikTok creator deals
Twitch streaming sponsorships
Podcast guest appearances
✕Off-limits
What you can't.
Pay-for-play deals (linked to performance/stats)
Enrollment inducements
School logo or IP use
No-deliverable payments
Booster-funded deals (with rare exceptions)
Competitor deals (e.g., Nike school + Adidas brand)
Deals that interfere with school or sports
Undisclosed ads or #ad-less promotion
?The gray area
Where it depends.
School-adjacent deals (needs approval)
Booster involvement (elevated scrutiny)
Competitor apparel (varies by school)
Political endorsements (state-dependent)
Alcohol/tobacco brands (restricted states)
Cryptocurrency/NFT deals (CSC flagged)
Multi-level marketing (generally disallowed)
Deals with high variance from market value
The rules

The rules, by the numbers.

Eight things every athlete should know before they sign their first deal.
01 / 08
$600 reporting threshold
Deals ≥ $600 must be reported to NIL Go (CSC/Deloitte) within 5 calendar days of signing.
02 / 08
5-day reporting window
You sign a deal on Monday, upload to NIL Go by Friday. Miss the deadline = compliance violation.
03 / 08
FTC #ad disclosure
Every post promoting a brand must include #ad or #sponsored in the first line of caption. Federal law.
04 / 08
Fair market value (FMV)
Your compensation can't exceed 20% above typical market rates for your follower tier and sport. CSC uses a 12-factor model.
05 / 08
Quid pro quo (deliverables)
Every deal must include specific, measurable deliverables. 'Best effort' doesn't count. '2 Instagram posts' does.
06 / 08
School approval (state-dependent)
Some states require school pre-approval. Some don't. Check your state's law and your school's policy.
07 / 08
Age requirement
Most states: age 13+. Colorado: 13+. Varies by state. High school athletes may have additional restrictions.
08 / 08
Tax reporting (1099)
If you earn ≥ $600 from NIL in a calendar year, expect a 1099 form in January. Plan your taxes accordingly.
How AthleteForge helps

Compliance that runs in the background.

Six automated checks that make every deal NCAA-, FTC-, and state-legal — without the spreadsheet.
01
Real-time compliance engine
Every deal is checked against 2026 NCAA rules, your school's specific policy, and your state's NIL law before you sign. If something's wrong, we tell you exactly why.
02
Auto-FTC disclosure
We remind you to include #ad in every post. Brand can review content before publishing. Compliance pre-approved.
03
NIL Go auto-export
Deals ≥$600 are automatically exported to NIL Go within 5 days of signing. You never miss a deadline.
04
Fair market value calculator
Based on the Deloitte 12-factor model, we estimate fair market value for your deal. If the offer is too high or too low, we flag it.
05
Deliverable verification
Every deal must include specific, measurable deliverables. Vague promises are rejected automatically.
06
School conflict detection
We know which brands conflict with your school's sponsors. We'll warn you if there's a conflict and help you get pre-approval.

Ready to earn from your name, image, and likeness?

We handle the rules. You handle the deals.

NIL Match — NIL Marketplace for Athletes & Brands