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Ohio Approves High School NIL in Emergency Vote, Effective Immediately

The change follows a court-ordered pause of the ban and sets strict disclosure and anti-recruiting rules under OHSAA oversight.

Overview

  • Member schools voted 447–121 to adopt the bylaw, with 247 abstentions, and it took effect statewide at once.
  • Ohio becomes the 45th state to permit high school athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness.
  • The policy bans collectives and school- or booster-facilitated deals and prohibits performance-based pay or recruitment inducements.
  • Athletes must disclose NIL agreements to the OHSAA within 14 days, with potential ineligibility of up to 20% of a season for noncompliance, as the association tracks deals and enforces recruiting and transfer rules.
  • The expedited vote was prompted by a lawsuit from Jamier Brown’s family and an Oct. 20 temporary restraining order; his attorney says they will seek to dismiss the case following the vote.