University of Oklahoma Athletics

Name, Image & Likeness

NIL | OU Compliance

NIL questions? Email ounil@ou.edu

For Name, Image and Likeness policy please click here. 

NCAA/State Policy
Based on the NCAA Interim Policy released in June 2021, student-athletes have the right to earn compensation for their NIL, pursuant to NCAA guidelines, conference rules, OU policies, and state and federal law. The NCAA June 2023 guidance’s requires schools to adhere to NCAA legislation (or policy) when it conflicts with permissive state laws. The Oklahoma NIL law can be found here.
 
Professional Representation
Students may obtain Professional Representation for the purpose of securing compensation for the use of their NIL without resulting in a penalty that limits their participation or affects their athletic grant-in-aid eligibility.
 
Professional Representation contracts for NIL agreements must:

  • Be in writing
  • Be signed by both parties
  • Clearly describe the responsibilities/obligations of both parties
  • Limit the scope of the representation exclusively to securing compensation for the use of the student-athlete's NIL
  • State the fees of the Professional Representation
 
Disclosure Requirements
Student-athletes must disclose all NIL agreements and contracts to OU, including endorsements, sponsorships, social media promotions, and Professional Representation. Disclosures should be submitted, with a copy of the contract included, within 72 hours of the agreement or before the student-athlete's next athletic competition, whichever comes first.
 
Student-athletes may disclose NIL agreements to Compliance through INFLCR.
 
Prohibited NIL Contracts and NIL Agreements
Student-athletes may not enter NIL agreements where:
  • The agreement is based on the student-athlete’s athletic performance, participation in intercollegiate athletics, or is an inducement to attend OU.
  • The contract requires student-athletes to fulfill their NIL obligations (e.g., display the third party’s apparel, advertise for the third-party) during Team Activities or otherwise interferes with Team Activities while “on-call.”
  • The contract requires the student-athlete to perform activities within OU’s facilities or use OU’s equipment unless written authorization is received from OU.
  • The contract requires a student-athlete to perform NIL activities during academic responsibilities or be absent from class, lab, or other required academic sessions.
  • The contract compensates a student-athlete directly or indirectly for promoting an athletics competition in which they participate.
  • The contract involves a commercial product or service that conflicts with OU policy or negatively impacts or reflects adversely on OU.
 
Use of University Intellectual Property and Facilities
Student-athletes may not enter into NIL Contracts or agreements that require the use of or consent to use any registered OU or Athletics Department Marks, logos, verbiage, or branded photography or videos without written consent from OU.
 
Student-athletes may use institutional colors and player numbers in conjunction with third-party NIL activities so long as those activities are consistent with state and federal law and all other OU policy. 
 
International Student-Athletes
International student-athletes may risk potential immigration issues by engaging in NIL Activities. Do not enter into any NIL agreement without consulting with Compliance or OU’s International Student Services.
 
Institutional Involvement with NIL
Institutional staff members, including coaches, must comply with NCAA, conference rules and regulations, OU Policy, and state and federal laws at all times. Head coaches may be held responsible for the actions of the personnel within their program, including the involvement or support for NIL.
 
OU, the Athletics Department, coaches, and other OU staff cannot compensate or cause compensation to be directed to a current or prospective student athlete for their NIL. They also may not encourage others to improperly induce student athletes to attend OU or pay student athletes for their athletic performance.
 
Institutional Staff Members MAY NOT:
  • Provide student-athletes with Professional Representation, NIL compensation, or cause compensation to be directed toward a student-athlete. The immediate family of coaches, as well as executive office members, are also prohibited from this activity.
  • Provide student-athletes with NIL deals from a business that the staff member owns separately from OU.
  • Compensate student-athletes for their NIL to promote a coach’s camp; however, the student-athletes are permitted to work at the camp pursuant to NCAA regulations.
  • Serve as an intermediary to connect a potential student-athlete with a booster or NIL entity.
  • Subscribe to an NIL entity or donate cash to an entity regardless of whether the funds are directed toward specific sport or student-athlete.
  • Be employed by an NIL entity.
  • Provide institutional or personal assets (tickets, access to suites) to a booster or NIL entity to incentivize NIL activities unless the assets are subject to a licensing or affiliate agreement with OU.
 
Institutional Staff Members MAY
  • Purchase items related to a student-athletes NIL for more than a nominal cost that are available to the public.
  • Raise money for an NIL entity by appearing at fundraisers or autographing items.
  • Request donor(s) provide funds to an NIL entity without directing funds to be used for a specific sport or student-athlete.
  • Provide a student-athlete contact information and other directory information to an NIL entity.
Boosters and NIL Entities
A booster is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity, or other organization, who participates in the promotion of OU’s intercollegiate athletics program or assists in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their family members. Boosters include individuals who have made donations to obtain season tickets for any sport or been involved in promoting OU athletics, booster clubs, and NIL entities (i.e., collectives).
  • Boosters are prohibited from recruiting prospective student athletes and may not induce prospective or current student-athletes to attend OU or compete in intercollegiate athletics.
  • Boosters may not provide extra benefits to prospective or current student-athletes or their families or have contact with prospective student-athletes or their families
  • Boosters, including NIL entities, must comply with NCAA and conference rules and regulations, and with state and federal laws, including prohibitions on pay-for-play.