In college athletics, many athletes can acquire NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals to earn money on the side by using their fame. Ultimately, athletes can partner with brands to promote their products and get paid. NIL deals were prohibited in the NCAA until 2021, when the policy was changed. Following this, many states in the U.S. allowed high school athletes to have NIL deals similar to college athletes, but with more restrictions and rules.
Ohio was one of the few states that didn’t allow high school athletes to have NIL deals until a recent lawsuit changed that. Jamier Brown, a top WR in the class of 2027, filed a lawsuit against The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) to have an opportunity in NIL deals. The complaint that was filed stated, “OHSAA’s blanket ban not only singles out Ohio’s high school student athletes for unequal treatment, but it also unlawfully suppresses their economic liberties, freedom of expression, and restrains competition in the NIL marketplace.” With the allowance of NIL deals, Brown claims that he could earn money that would help “take some weight off” when it comes to the costs of training, tutoring, and travel.
As a result, a Franklin County judge put into place a temporary restraining order against the OHSAA in the lawsuit. From here, the OHSAA held a voting in November 2025 for an emergency referendum, which was voted in favor of Brown. This made Ohio the 45th state to allow NIL Deals for high school athletes. This went into effect immediately and created procedures and limitations to help students use this new opportunity.
When a student-athlete wants to have an NIL agreement, they have to go through many documents under the OHSAA to make sure they strictly adhere to the guidelines. The OHSAA has a NIL resource center that includes a list of certain rules. For example, athletes can’t use their school’s name, logo, or mascot in their endorsements. “Pay for play,” which is receiving money based on athletic performance, is not allowed. Athletes also can’t market during official team practices or games. These rules are connected to the actual athletes themselves, while there are more rules that connect with eligibility and the school. Athletes have to disclose all NIL contracts with their school, and their school has to enforce the restrictions. Also, the school, the athletic department, and the booster programs can’t facilitate or profit from an athlete’s NIL deals. The rules have to be monitored by athletic directors at the high schools that have athletes in NIL deals, which creates a hassle.
Dover High School’s Athletic Director, Mr. Tim McCrate, feels that allowing NIL deals at the high school level will take away from “educational athletics,” which he describes as “all of the important life lessons and skills that school-based athletics teach.” Mr. McCrate also emphasizes how this could lead to athletes undermining the concept of being an “unselfish team player” because NIL deals introduce self-centered ideas. Despite the possible setbacks, Mr. McCrate thinks that it can financially benefit the students who partake in NIL deals.
While NIL agreements have many strict rules and regulations, they can be beneficial because they open up a new source of income for the student-athlete. This income can open up more opportunities to athletes because they can use this money to lift financial stress, to cover the cost of training, or to provide savings for education in the future.
However, there is potential for inequality because of the popularity of different sports. It might be easier for a football or basketball player to find deals than for players in other sports. Additionally, males may have more opportunities than females due to the sport they play. This could be avoided if companies and schools ensured equal chances for everyone. All in all, as long as every condition is met, NIL deals could be very beneficial for high school athletes in Ohio. This new law should be able to shape the future of sports for many years to come.
