NCAA rules allow student-athletes to be compensated for using their names, images or likenesses (NIL). An “NIL activity” is any business activity in which student-athletes are compensated for using the student-athletes’ NILs. Examples include personal athletically- or non-athletically-related businesses, social media influencing, promotional appearances, camps, lessons, and autograph sessions.

Sun Devil student-athletes must follow all NCAA rules as well as ASU policy relating to NIL activities. As of June 7, 2025, the College Sports Commission will use NIL Go to determine whether third-party NIL deals are made with the purpose of using student-athletes’ NIL for a valid business purposes and do not exceed a reasonable range of compensation. Finally, student-athletes must disclose all deals that exceed $600 (in aggregate from one company) into the NIL Go system. Student-athletes are encouraged to watch this video from NIL Go relating to disclosing the deals.  

What is prohibited?
Just because an activity is labeled as an NIL activity by a third party does not make the activity permissible. Among other rules:

• Student-athletes cannot be paid to play their sport (e.g., there are no charity slam dunk contests, home run derbies, or long-distance competitions).
• All NIL activities require student-athletes to receive compensation that falls within the range of compensation requirements set through the College Sports Commission.

Student-athletes must follow and update any information requested through the NIL Go system to make sure their deals are ‘cleared’ by NIL Go. NIL Go has information relating to what the potential outcomes will be once student-athletes submit deals, and information relating to what student-athletes need to do if deals are ‘not cleared.’

Preliminary injunction relating to recruitment of prospects for NIL purposes
In accordance with the preliminary injunction issued by the Eastern District of Tennessee (federal court), for the time being, the Two Booster Rules — i.e., no recruiting and no gifts — do not apply to boosters, NIL collectives or other third (non-ASU) parties when it comes to contacting prospective student-athletes for the sole purpose of negotiating potential NIL deals.

Boosters and other third parties cannot contact student-athletes from other institutions who are not in the transfer portal. Once they are in the transfer portal, they become prospects and benefit from the preliminary injunction.