Ohio high schoolers, after lawsuit from an Ohio State commit, will be able to profit off NIL: Buckeye Breakfast

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) passed an NIL referendum on Monday, which will allow Ohio high school athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

Ohio will become the 45th state to allow NIL benefits at the high school level.

The voting period, which ended last Friday, had 447 schools vote in favor of the referendum, with 121 schools voting against. A total of 247 schools abstained.

The bylaw will go into effect immediately. A full statement from the OHSAA, including the rules instituted, can be read here.

Ohio State 2027 wide receiver commit Jamier Brown, who attends Wayne High School in Huber Heights, and his mother filed a lawsuit in October which would allow athletes to profit off NIL. Per the complaint at the time, his earning power was estimated to be over $100,000 per year.

That lawsuit helped pushed the ball across the line, as now prospects all across Ohio will be able to profit off NIL. The Buckeyes have 10 in-state pledges from the 2026 class.

There are three prospects, including Brown, from Ohio that are currently committed to Ohio State in the 2027 class.

“I think across the country, you’re seeing it’s become pretty standard,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “I think if we would’ve said this about 10 years ago, I think all of us would’ve been like, ‘No way.’ But here we are. We’re in this phase. I can see it obviously benefiting the student-athletes, which ultimately, is a great opportunity for them.”

An Ohio State football team is set to play for a championship

Ohio State’s club football team is set to play in its sixth-straight NCFA (National Club Football Association) National Championship Game.

With a 49-9 win over Michigan State, the Buckeyes’ club football team won the Great Lakes Conference title and advanced to the national title game. The team is 8-0 on the season.

Ohio State will be in search of a back-to-back national title, and will have to beat fellow unbeaten Coppin State to win another championship. The Buckeyes are three-time national champions (2019, 2021 and 2024).

Key dates

• The Game 2025: 4 days, Nov. 29, 2025
• Early Signing Period: 8 days, Dec. 3-5, 2025
• Big Ten Championship Game: 11 days, Dec. 6, 2025
• College Football Playoff first round: 24 days, Dec. 19-20, 2025
• College Football Playoff quarterfinal: 36 days, Dec. 31, 2025-Jan. 1, 2026
• College Football Playoff semifinal: 46 days, Jan. 8-9, 2026
• College Football Playoff National Championship Game: 55 days, Jan. 19, 2026