You’re aware that the kid who cuts your lawn during the summer is a high school athlete. If you live in Ohio, their face may be coming soon to a Wheaties box near you. On November 24, 2025, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced that its member schools had overwhelmingly voted in favor of an emergency bylaw referendum to allow high school student-athletes to negotiate endorsements for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
Just because Ohio high school-level athletes can now make NIL agreements doesn’t mean every billboard along Routes 70 and 71 will feature the personal branding of OHSAA student-athletes, but it does raise the possibility of a Columbus-area high school basketball player offering a smiling inducement for a product. With the voting coming in response to a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by a Franklin County judge for a pending lawsuit against OHSAA, the state of Ohio joins 45 other jurisdictions that allow high school NIL opportunities.
Allowing Ohio kids to try to earn a few bucks by selling their image and likeness isn’t likely to generate even a small fraction of the pending NIL revenue garnered by NCAA college athletes, but for some, it might be a lucrative endeavor. Due to their amateurism, OHSAA NIL endorsement deals and sponsorships are subject to fairly restrictive rules and guardrails. Still, don’t be shocked if you see a star high school swimmer’s NIL on bathing suits in your area.
Look for My Live Appearance at the Local Walmart
Shock waves reverberated through the sports world with a 2015 ruling that held it was an antitrust violation for the NCAA to forbid student-athletes from making NIL deals. States began passing laws allowing NILs in 2019, with some going into effect in 2022. Given the billions of dollars colleges and universities generate through the sports-related exploits of their student athletes, it seemed inevitable that NIL activities would become legal. Still, care had to be taken to ensure the student retained their eligibility as an amateur athlete.
While student-athletes can’t receive a direct payment to play a sport at any level or reward them with performance bonuses, NIL rules at the college level allow schools to pay them for the use of their NILs. This differs from the now-45 states that allow NILs at the high school level. Those student-athletes can use their names, images, and likenesses to earn money through endorsements, social media posts, or public appearances.
Given the regionality and lack of a massive fan base, imagining high school sports as worthy of NIL proposals may have seemed outlandish and unnecessary to some. However, America’s hunger for sports remains voracious and ever-expanding, and national showcases, along with the ability to stream events online, grant accessibility to high school sports that was previously unavailable.
What Do You Mean I Can’t Endorse Captain Morgan’s Rum? Our Mascot Is a Pirate!
A lawsuit brought by an Ohio high school football player essentially forced the hand of OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute into having the association vote on an NIL bylaw. The ballot put before OHSAA member schools approved the use of NILs with 447 voting yes, 121 voting no, and 247 abstaining. Due to the TRO, student-athletes are permitted to immediately begin accepting offers on their NILs for their personal branding. The suit, which is seeking $100,000 in lost revenue, claims OHSAA’s ban on NILs violated Ohio antitrust laws, in addition to the plaintiff’s right to freedom of speech and equal protection.
The guidelines for high-school students becoming an NIL resource are much stricter than those for their collegiate counterparts. Given that the majority are still minors under the age of 18, that’s hardly surprising. High school athletes can’t use their school’s gear or logo in their NIL endeavors. They must inform the OHSAA about every NIL agreement they enter into within 14 days or run the risk of becoming ineligible for 20% of their sport’s season.
In addition to other products OHSAA may deem inappropriate or distracting, Ohio high school athletes can’t enter into NIL agreements with any of the following:
- The gaming/gambling industry
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco/cigarettes
- Cannabis products
- Banned or illegal substances
- Adult entertainment products or services
- Firearms or other weapons
The students aren’t allowed to cut class or use school time to fulfill NIL duties. They also can’t give endorsements of any kind during a sporting event or while being transported to or from one.
For the overwhelming majority of Ohio high school student-athletes, NIL deals still aren’t going to be a thing. But for a select few star athletes striving to win state championships or being recruited for big-name collegiate sports, some extra cash for the confection named after them at the local Dairy Queen might be on the table. In addition to the fancy trophy and bragging rights, of course.
Related Resources
- Name, Image, and Likeness Laws Give Student-Athletes a Chance To Cash In (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
- NCAA Committee Wagers College Athletes Can Bet on Pro Games (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
- Should You Sign a School Sports Waiver? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
