Another state just joined the high school NIL era. On May 4, the Indiana High School Athletic Association board voted 13-5 to approve a rule called Personal Branding Activities, or PBA. It takes effect for the 2026-27 school year.
According to Yahoo Sports, Indiana becomes the 46th state, plus Washington, D.C., to allow some form of high school NIL. That leaves just four states without it: Alabama, Wyoming, Hawaii and Mississippi.
The big difference: schools stay out
Indiana's model is built around the athlete, not the school. IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig drew the contrast directly, saying, "Unlike the current college system, where schools often play a direct role in NIL compensation, the new rule keeps high schools out of arranging or funding deals."
That shapes almost everything in the rule.
What athletes can do
- Build and earn from their personal brand through social media, appearances and endorsements that aren't tied to school athletics
- Get paid for non-athletic services, like tutoring, personal training or youth sports coaching
What athletes can't do
- Use their school's name or uniform in a deal
- Reference their IHSAA member school
- Promote gambling, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or firearms
- Take part in collectives affiliated with IHSAA member schools
- Accept deals designed to recruit them to a particular high school
How Indiana compares
States have taken a lot of different approaches. Yahoo noted that some, like Texas, add age limits, barring athletes under 17 from signing deals. Indiana's defining feature is its strict no-school-branding rule.
For families, that means an athlete's own following matters more than their jersey. A sophomore with a strong social presence and a good relationship with local businesses has options. A star without much online presence may find fewer opportunities, since the school name can't do the selling.
What families should think about
If you're the parent of a high school athlete in Indiana, or any state with a similar rule, a few practical questions are worth asking before signing anything:
- Does the deal mention the school, mascot or uniform in any way?
- Is the company in a prohibited category?
- Is anyone connected to a school or its collective involved?
- Could the deal look like it's tied to choosing or transferring schools?
Rules vary a lot from state to state, so always check your own state association's guidance.
The bigger picture
High school NIL is now the norm, not the exception. With 46 states plus D.C. on board, the conversation is shifting from whether teens can earn from their name to how they can do it safely and fairly. Indiana's answer is to keep the school out of the transaction entirely, and other states may borrow that approach.
For fans, it means the next wave of college stars will arrive with years of brand-building already under their belts.