Ohio Bill Aims to Ban NIL Deals for High School and Middle School Athletes

Republican lawmakers argue NIL deals could lead to recruiting issues and undermine the amateur nature of high school sports.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Ohio Republican state representatives Adam Miller and Mike Odioso have introduced a bill to ban high school and middle school athletes from making name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. The lawmakers argue that the purpose of high school sports should be about the learning experience and not about earning income. They are concerned that NIL deals could lead to an "underground transfer portal" as wealthy alumni use the lure of NIL payments to recruit students to transfer schools.

Why it matters

Ohio is one of 45 states that currently allows high school athletes to have NIL deals. Supporters of the bill argue that NIL at the high school level is different from the college level and could negatively impact the amateur nature of high school sports and lead to increased recruiting issues. Opponents argue that high school athletes should be able to monetize their skills outside of school just like other students.

The details

The bill, Ohio House Bill 661, was introduced by Republican state representatives Adam Miller and Mike Odioso. They argue that middle school and high school athletes are "emotionally and psychologically unprepared" to handle NIL deals. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has passed an emergency referendum allowing NIL deals, but the lawmakers want the state legislature to weigh in on the issue. A Franklin County judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order preventing the OHSAA from enforcing its ban on high school athletes benefiting from NIL.

  • In October 2026, a Franklin County judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Ohio High School Athletic Association from enforcing its ban against high school athletes benefiting from NIL.
  • In November 2026, OHSAA member schools passed an emergency referendum allowing NIL, with 447 schools voting in favor, 121 schools voting against, and 247 schools abstaining.

The players

Adam Miller

Republican state representative from New Richmond, Ohio who co-introduced the bill to ban NIL deals for high school and middle school athletes.

Mike Odioso

Republican state representative from Green Twp., Ohio who co-introduced the bill to ban NIL deals for high school and middle school athletes. He is a former teacher and football coach for St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.

Jasmine Brown

Filed a lawsuit on behalf of her son Jamier Brown, an Ohio State Buckeyes football commit from the Dayton area, to allow high school athletes to benefit from NIL deals.

Jamier Brown

A top-ranked wide receiver from Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio who is transferring to Big Walnut High School in Sunbury for his senior year. He has missed out on more than $100,000 in potential NIL deals according to the lawsuit.

Sean Brennan

Democratic state representative from Parma, Ohio who questioned how paying high school athletes is different from a high school student earning money on the weekends playing music.

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What they’re saying

“The purpose in Ohio high school sports should be about a learning experience that is an extension of the classroom. We don't spend public taxpayer money on stadiums and on weight rooms and on gymnasiums in order for them to be able to earn employment and earn an income.”

— Adam Miller, State Representative, R-New Richmond (yahoo.com)

“We're talking about seventh graders. We're talking about eighth graders. We're talking about freshmen. … They are emotionally and psychologically unprepared for this. They're not going to be able to handle it.”

— Mike Odioso, State Representative, R-Green Twp. (yahoo.com)

“This NIL change will undoubtedly make it way worse. Wealthy alumni will be the recruiting agent for their alma mater and will use the lure of NIL payments to direct students to transfer to a certain school. … This is about protecting our children from what I would believe are some predators out there that would like to take advantage of that child's athletic ability.”

— Adam Miller, State Representative, R-New Richmond (yahoo.com)

“Who are we as a legislature to be able to tell young people how they're allowed to monetize their skills on their own time? … This is outside of the school day as well. They can't do it during the school day.”

— Sean Brennan, State Representative, D-Parma (yahoo.com)

“Are guitar players being recruited to go to different schools? … I think that's the biggest difference I can think of.”

— Mike Odioso, State Representative, R-Green Twp. (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to make the temporary restraining order permanent, which would prevent the Ohio High School Athletic Association from enforcing its ban on high school athletes benefiting from NIL deals.

The takeaway

This debate over NIL deals for high school athletes highlights the tension between preserving the amateur nature of high school sports and allowing young athletes to potentially profit from their talents. The Ohio legislature will have to weigh the concerns about recruiting issues and the emotional maturity of young athletes against arguments about allowing them to monetize their skills outside of school.