Michigan High School Athletes Can Now Make NIL Money

You know the obnoxious dad who yells at his little league ball player like he's playing in the majors? Yeah, well, he's about to get even more obnoxious. In a move no one had on their 2026 BINGO card, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has ruled that high school athletes can now make money off of their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

RELATED: Michigan Only Allows Six Snow Days — So, What Happens Next?

MHSAA Approves NIL for High School Athletes

Make no mistake, the high school NIL is a completely different animal than the collegiate ranks. This means you won't see Lamborghinis lining the student parking lot or keys handed over to new homes. This is something the MHSAA has pondered for years as it watched other states fumble the ball after launching NIL.

What Michigan High School Athletes Can Earn Money From

Effective immediately, high school athletes can now accept money for the following:

• Social media endorsements
• Autographs and appearances
• Modeling, merchandise, and sports cards
• Camps and private lessons

Keep in mind, these opportunities are for individual athletes only, not a cash grab for the entire team. Coaches and schools are expressly forbidden from arranging or promoting deals.

What High School NIL Does NOT Allow

Of course, no deal comes without restrictions. Here's what high school athletes aren't allowed to do under the new MHSAA NIL agreement:

• No pay-for-play
• No boosters, collectives, or "mysterious uncle with money" are allowed to contribute
• No using school logos, uniforms, or mascots
• No deals based on stats, wins, or trophies

RELATED: Snow Day Dilemmas: Michigan Law on Leaving Kids Home Alone

Athletes will not be able to endorse anything related to gambling, alcohol, or other unsafe products. Once a deal is made, it must be reported within seven days, but schools can enact stricter deadlines if they choose.