MHSAA approves high school student-athletes to profit from NIL

Michigan has officially allowed high school student-athletes to profit from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), according to various reports. The state becomes the 46th — and first in 2026 — to allow high school student-athletes to profit off their NIL.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has created a page detailing an overview of what is and is not permissible. Below is a breakdown of the MHSAA Personal Branding Activity (PBA), another term used to describe NIL, according to its website.

A student-athlete can earn compensation through personal branding, including endorsements, appearances, social media promotions, and other similar activities. To put it simply, students are allowed to earn compensation from PBA, which are individual opportunities for individual students.

What is allowed

A student-athlete may earn compensation from the individual use of their personal PBA, including activities such as commercials, product endorsements, personal appearances, autograph or photo sessions, merchandise, sports cards, apparel sales, group licensing, personal logos, or acting as a social media influencer. These must be individual opportunities for individual student-athletes.

What isn’t allowed

A student-athlete shall not use the name, logos, mascots, trademarks, or other obvious identifiers of the MHSAA or any MHSAA member school or use the facility or property of any member school. A student-athlete should not imply that the member school or the MHSAA approves of or endorses the PBA.

A PBA is not “pay for play.” PBA compensation should not be contingent on specific athletic performance and shall not be provided as an inducement to attend or remain at a particular school. PBA compensation shall not be provided, facilitated, or arranged, directly or indirectly, by an MHSAA member school or “Associated Entity or Individual.”

The student may not engage in any PBA associated with products, services, individuals, companies, or industries deemed inappropriate, unsafe, or inconsistent with the values and goals of interscholastic athletics

The student-athlete/parent/guardian is responsible for determining what, if any, effect the PBA may have on eligibility with the NCAA, NJCAA, and/or NAIA. The student-athlete/parent/guardian is also responsible for any and all student employment responsibilities and documents, tax obligations with the IRS, and any other local, state, or federal law requirements associated with such PBA.

Once you have a contract

Any verbal or written opportunity or contract for PBA compensation must be disclosed to the student-athlete’s school and the MHSAA within seven (7) days by submitting this required form.

For more information, including more detailed explanations and examples of what is and isn’t allowed under the MHSAA’s PBA rules, click here.