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Know what you keep
Get the bag.
Keep the bag.
Your NIL check isn't all yours. Your agent, the IRS and your state all get paid first β and nobody withholds a dime. Put your number on the check and see what's actually yours.
No sign-up. Nothing you type is sent anywhere β the math runs on your phone.
π§± Brick Γ Brick Savings & Truth Co.
No. 2627
Pay to the
order of You
order of You
Forty thousand and 00/100Dollars
Memo
Brickyard MotorsAuthorized signature
Agent 20%β$8,000
Taxes est.β$6,595
You keep$25,405
Your breakdown
$25,405of $40,000 Β· 64Β’ of every dollar
β Fine-tune school vs. NIL money Β· agent rates Β· how it's paid Β· filing status
Tap any line to learn what it isAgent Taxes Yours
Tap a line to see what it is, why it's there and how to shrink it.
Paid as 12 monthly checks. The day each one lands, move the tax money into a separate savings account β your tax vault β before you spend a dollar.
Your check$3,333
Agent$667
Tax vault$550
Actually yours$2,117
Nobody withholds on NIL money, so the IRS wants estimated payments four times a year β about $1,649 each on your numbers.
Estimates split your yearly tax evenly. January can be skipped if you file by Feb 1 and pay in full. Dates move to the next business day when they fall on a weekend or holiday. IRS Form 1040-ES β
More money moves β emergency fund, 50/30/20, the Rule of 72, lifestyle creep β on bricktalk.net β Free Game β
Estimates for 2026. How the math works
Decode the deal
Read it like a lawyer. Sign it like a pro.
Two sample agreements written the way real ones are. Tap any highlight to see why it matters and what to ask for instead.
Sample Β· fictional
Name, Image and Likeness
Endorsement Agreement
This Name, Image and Likeness Endorsement Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as of August 1, 2026 (the "Effective Date") by and between Brickyard Motors, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company ("Company"), and the undersigned student-athlete ("Athlete"). Company and Athlete are each a "Party."
Recitals. A. Athlete is enrolled at, and a member of the football program of, an NCAA Division I institution (the "Institution"). B. Company wishes to engage Athlete to promote Company's dealerships and to use Athlete's name, image and likeness ("NIL") in that promotion, and Athlete wishes to accept, on the terms below.
1. Term. 1.1 The term of this Agreement begins on the Effective Date and continues for twelve (12) months (the "Initial Term"). 1.2 Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive twelve (12) month periods (each, a "Renewal Term") unless either Party gives written notice of non-renewal at least ninety (90) days before the end of the then-current term.
2. Services. 2.1 Athlete shall provide: (a) two (2) original Instagram feed posts per calendar month featuring Company, each tagging @brickyardmotors and including "#ad" or another disclosure required by the FTC Endorsement Guides; and (b) up to four (4) in-person appearances per term, each not to exceed two (2) hours, scheduled by mutual agreement at least fourteen (14) days in advance. 2.2 Company acknowledges that Athlete's academic and athletic obligations take priority and shall not require Services that conflict with team or Institution activities.
3. Compensation. 3.1 In consideration of the Services and rights granted, Company shall pay Athlete a total fee of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00), payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments of $3,333.33 (any rounding difference to be added to the final installment), each due within fifteen (15) days after the end of the month in which Services were performed. 3.2 Company shall also provide Athlete the use of one (1) 2026 model-year demonstrator vehicle during the term. Athlete shall maintain insurance satisfactory to Company and is responsible for any damage beyond normal wear and tear.
4. Compliance. 4.1 Athlete shall disclose this Agreement to the Institution and submit it through the College Sports Commission's NIL Go platform within five (5) business days after signing. Company shall provide any information reasonably requested for that review. If this Agreement is not cleared, or is cleared only at a different amount, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend it so it can be cleared. 4.2 No payment is due for any period during which this Agreement has not been cleared.
5. Grant of Rights. 5.1 Athlete grants Company a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use Athlete's name, image, likeness, voice, signature and biographical information, and all content created in connection with the Services, in any media now known or later devised, to advertise and promote Company. 5.2 Company shall not use the Institution's names, logos or marks without the Institution's separate written permission.
6. Exclusivity. During the term, Athlete shall not provide endorsement or promotional services to, or permit the use of Athlete's NIL by, any business engaged in the automotive or automotive-related services industries.
7. Early Termination; Repayment. 7.1 Company may terminate this Agreement immediately on written notice if, in Company's sole discretion, Athlete engages in any conduct that brings Athlete or Company into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule, or that reflects unfavorably on Company. 7.2 If during the term Athlete (a) transfers to another institution, (b) withdraws from or is dismissed from the Institution's football program, or (c) is declared ineligible for intercollegiate competition, Athlete shall repay Company, within thirty (30) days, the pro-rata portion of all compensation paid for the remainder of the then-current term.
8. Representation. Athlete is represented by BigTime Sports Management, LLC ("Agent"). Company shall pay twenty percent (20%) of each installment directly to Agent and the balance to Athlete.
9. Independent Contractor; Taxes. Athlete is an independent contractor and not an employee of Company. Company will not withhold taxes from any payment and will issue IRS forms as required by law. Athlete is solely responsible for all taxes on compensation received under this Agreement, including the fair market value of the vehicle.
10. Assignment. Company may assign this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any affiliate or successor without Athlete's consent. Athlete may not assign this Agreement.
11. Governing Law; Disputes. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Any dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration in the county of Company's principal place of business, and each Party waives any right to a jury trial.
12. General. This Agreement is the entire agreement of the Parties and supersedes all prior discussions. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both Parties. If Athlete is under eighteen (18) years of age, this Agreement must also be signed by Athlete's parent or legal guardian.
BRICKYARD MOTORS, LLC
By: ____________________
Title: _________________ATHLETE
____________________
Parent/guardian (if under 18): __________
By: ____________________
Title: _________________ATHLETE
____________________
Parent/guardian (if under 18): __________
Sample Β· fictional
Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness License Agreement
This Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness License Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of July 1, 2026 by and between the Board of Trustees of State University, on behalf of its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics ("University"), and the undersigned student-athlete ("Student-Athlete").
Recitals. A. Under the settlement approved in In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (House v. NCAA), participating institutions may compensate student-athletes for the use of their name, image and likeness, subject to an annual cap. B. University wishes to license Student-Athlete's NIL, and Student-Athlete wishes to grant that license, on the terms below.
1. Term. This Agreement is effective July 1, 2026 and ends June 30, 2027 (the "Term"), unless terminated earlier under Section 8.
2. License. Student-Athlete grants University an exclusive, worldwide license to use Student-Athlete's NIL in connection with University athletics, including broadcasts, publications, promotions, group-licensing programs and sponsor activations (the "Licensed Uses"), during the Term and, for materials created during the Term, for two (2) years thereafter.
3. Compensation. 3.1 University shall pay Student-Athlete Three Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($325,000.00) for the Term, in ten (10) equal installments of $32,500.00 paid on or about the fifteenth (15th) day of each month from August 2026 through May 2027. 3.2 Payments will be reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC as royalties. University makes no representation regarding the tax treatment of any payment, and Student-Athlete is solely responsible for all taxes.
4. Conditions of Payment. University's payment obligations are conditioned on Student-Athlete remaining (a) enrolled full-time and in good academic standing, (b) eligible for intercollegiate competition, and (c) a member of the team roster.
5. Participation. University may reduce any unpaid compensation by up to fifty percent (50%) if Student-Athlete is not a regular participant in team activities, as determined by the head coach in the head coach's discretion.
6. Injury. If Student-Athlete is unable to participate because of an athletically related injury or illness, as certified by University sports medicine staff, University shall continue all payments for the remainder of the Term.
7. Third-Party NIL Activities. 7.1 Student-Athlete may enter into NIL agreements with third parties, provided Student-Athlete discloses each such agreement through NIL Go as required. 7.2 Student-Athlete shall not enter into any agreement with a business that competes with a University corporate sponsor, including University's apparel, beverage, banking and telecommunications partners, and shall not wear or display competing brands at University events.
8. Termination; Liquidated Damages. 8.1 If Student-Athlete voluntarily withdraws from University, transfers to another institution, or enters the NCAA Transfer Portal before the end of the Term, Student-Athlete shall pay University, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the compensation remaining to be paid under this Agreement for the Term. University may offset any amount owed against payments otherwise due. 8.2 University may terminate this Agreement on written notice if Student-Athlete is dismissed from the team for violating team, University or conference rules.
9. Representatives. University shall not pay any fee to Student-Athlete's agent or representative. Any fees owed to a representative are Student-Athlete's sole responsibility.
10. Governing Law; Disputes. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the state in which University is located. Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall first be submitted in writing to University's Director of Athletics; if it is not resolved within thirty (30) days, it shall be brought exclusively in the state courts of the county in which University is located. Nothing in this Agreement waives any immunity available to University under law.
11. General. This Agreement is the entire agreement of the parties regarding its subject matter. Student-Athlete acknowledges having had the opportunity to consult legal counsel of Student-Athlete's choosing before signing.
STATE UNIVERSITY
By: ____________________
Director of AthleticsSTUDENT-ATHLETE
____________________
Date: _______________
By: ____________________
Director of AthleticsSTUDENT-ATHLETE
____________________
Date: _______________
Fictional sample agreements for education β written to read like real ones. Not legal advice. Have a sports attorney who works for you review your actual deal.
β Red flag
Auto-renewal you'll forget about.
A 90-day notice window in the middle of your season is how you get locked in for another year at last year's price.
Ask for: "No automatic renewal. Any extension must be in writing and signed by both parties."
β Good
Specific, capped deliverables.
Exact posts, a cap on appearances and hours, advance notice, and a team-schedule carve-out. That's what a real deal looks like β and what NIL Go reviewers look for. The "#ad" disclosure is required by the FTC and protects you.
Do this: screenshot every post and log every appearance.
β Good
Fixed amount, fixed dates.
You know what's coming and when. Budget from the net: about $2,117 of each check is actually yours after the agent and taxes.
β Negotiate
The "free" car isn't free.
The car is taxable income at fair market value β a car worth $600 a month adds $7,200 of income with no cash to pay the tax on it. And here you pay the insurance and the damage.
Ask for: the car's value in writing, Company-paid insurance, or a cash alternative.
β Good
Built for NIL Go.
Third-party deals of $600+ go to NIL Go within 5 business days. The good-faith clause means a flag leads to a fix, not a dead deal. Note 4.2: no pay until it clears β don't spend money you haven't been cleared for.
β Red flag
Perpetual + irrevocable = forever.
Your freshman face in their ads when you're 30, and you can never take it back.
Ask for: "License ends 12 months after the term. Company may keep archived posts but may not create new ads."
β Negotiate
"Automotive-related" is doing a lot of work.
Could mean insurance, tires, car washes, gas stations, rideshare β deals you haven't been offered yet.
Ask for: "Exclusivity limited to new and used vehicle dealerships within 50 miles."
β Red flag
"Sole discretion" means any reason.
They can walk whenever they want, and you have no way to push back.
Ask for: termination only for criminal charges or a school suspension, with written notice and 10 days to respond β and you keep pay for work already done.
β Red flag
A clawback that follows you into the portal.
Transfer, get cut or get ruled ineligible and you owe money back in 30 days β money you may have spent or set aside for taxes. Schools have sued players to collect under clauses like this.
Ask for: no repayment for months already worked, none if the coach leaves or eligibility issues aren't your fault, and a hard cap.
β Negotiate
20% off the top.
That's $8,000 of your $40,000 before taxes, for a local deal with set deliverables. A flat-fee attorney review often costs far less. The fee terms belong in your agreement with your agent.
Ask for: a lower rate or a flat fee β or pay your agent yourself.
β Standard
"Will not withhold" means you're the withholding.
Normal for NIL β so set aside about $550 from every check. The car's value is taxable to you too. For 2026, you may not even get a 1099-NEC under $2,000; the income is still taxable.
β Negotiate
They can hand your deal to someone else.
Company can assign the contract to an affiliate or a buyer without asking β you could end up endorsing a dealership group you've never heard of.
Ask for: assignment only with your written consent.
β Negotiate
Their county, their rules.
Arbitration is common, but it's usually faster and cheaper for them than for you.
Ask for: arbitration near your school, with Company paying the arbitration fees.
β Good
Under 18? A parent signs too.
Normal, and it protects you. Plenty of incoming freshmen are 17 when they sign their first deal.
β Negotiate
Two years after you leave.
The school can keep using what it created with your name and image after you're gone β including in sponsor activations.
Ask for: rights end with your eligibility, and no sponsor ads using you without separate pay.
β Good
Clear amount, clear schedule.
AugβMay means half this money lands in 2026 and half in 2027 β two tax years, which can lower your total bill. See Smart moves in the calculator.
β Know this
Royalties β for now.
Many schools report rev share as royalties, which usually means no self-employment tax. Tax pros call it untested, and the school says the taxes are all on you. Set money aside as if you'll owe it; if you don't, it's a bonus in April.
β Know this
Lose eligibility, lose the checks.
Payments stop if you drop below full-time, lose eligibility or leave the roster β even mid-season.
Ask: "What happens if eligibility is lost for reasons outside my control?" Get the answer in writing.
β Red flag
One person decides your pay.
"A regular participant, as determined by the head coach" can cut what's left of your money in half, with no objective standard.
Ask for: objective criteria (games dressed, practices attended) β or strike it.
β Gold
Paid even if you're hurt.
Plenty of contracts don't have this. If yours doesn't, ask for it by name.
β Good
You can still do brand deals.
Report each one through NIL Go. If the payer is booster-connected, a big deal also gets a pay-range review.
β Red flag
This can kill your brand deal.
If the school has a beverage sponsor, your $75,000 energy-drink deal may be dead on arrival.
Ask for: the full sponsor list before you sign, and written approval of any deals you already have.
β Red flag
The buyout.
Leave early and you owe half of what's left β and the school can hold back your checks to collect. Schools have sued players under clauses like this (Cincinnati, Ole Miss, FAU). A third party can't pay it for you. No court has ruled yet on whether these hold up.
Ask for: a buyout that shrinks every month, waived if the head coach leaves or you're medically disqualified.
β Negotiate
"Team rules" can mean anything.
Get dismissed and the deal ends β but team rules are often unwritten or change mid-year.
Ask for: the rules in writing, plus notice and a chance to respond before termination.
β Know this
Your agent's cut comes from you.
At 15%, your agent takes $48,750 of this contract. Agents typically charge about 5% on school money ($16,250) and 15β20% on brand deals.
Ask for: a tiered fee, in writing, in your agreement with your agent.
β Good
They're telling you to get a lawyer.
Do it β one who works for you, not the school and not your agent.
Check your deal
The red flag check. 12 questions.
Answer from your actual contract. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
0/12 answered
Question 1 of 12
Deal riskLow
Build the stack
Brick by brick. Before you spend a dollar.
Your whole check as 100 bricks. The top comes off before you touch it. You decide what the rest becomes.
Load a plan:
Foundationemergency fund
InvestRoth first
Familya set number
Funguilt-free
Livingwhatever's leftauto
Decide
Two offers? Run them both.
The bigger number doesn't always pay more. Taxes, agents and exit clauses move the real answer.
A
You keepβ
B
You keepβ
Money isn't everything: compare exit clauses, playing time, the NIL market in each city and your degree path too.
The rules, 2026-27
What changed. What it means for your money.
Ten rules in plain English, each with a source.
β Last verified Sept 22, 2026
On the horizon
The Protect College Sports Act is moving in the Senate. It cleared procedural votes 74β24 and 77β22 (Sept 15 & 17); a final Senate vote was expected the week of Sept 21, and the House is out until after the midterms. As written, it would lock in the rev-share cap, override state NIL laws and cap agent fees at 5%. ESPN β Β· Senate summary β
Swipe through all 10
01
Schools can pay you directly.
Since July 1, 2025 (the House v. NCAA settlement), schools can pay athletes straight out of athletic revenue. The cap is $20.5M per school in 2025-26 and about $21.58M in 2026-27, then rises 4% in 2027-28.
For your money: rev share is contract money. Negotiate it like a pro deal and get the payment schedule in writing.
02
Football gets most of it.
The settlement doesn't set a split. In 2025-26, schools paid 63.8% of rev share to football, 20.9% to men's basketball, 8% to women's basketball and 7.3% to every other sport combined.
For your money: outside football and basketball, your real money is third-party NIL β brands, camps, lessons, content.
03
Report $600+ deals to NIL Go.
Third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go (the College Sports Commission's clearinghouse, built with Deloitte) within 5 business days of signing or agreeing on payment. Incoming high-schoolers and transfers can get up to 14 days in some cases.
For your money: don't spend money from a deal that hasn't cleared. Report everything. Keep copies.
04
Booster money gets a pay check.
Deals with "associated" payers β boosters, collectives, your school's media-rights partner β need a valid business purpose and must land in a fair pay range. Since July 1, 2026, associated deals of $600β$15K skip the pay-range review until you pass $50K in a year.
For your money: no-show collective money is over. Real deliverables make a real deal.
05
Rejected deals skew big.
NIL Go's first-year report (July 2026): 34,195 deals cleared ($355M) and 1,812 rejected ($89.85M) β rejected deals averaged about five times the size of cleared ones. Rejected deals can be reworked: Nebraska's $7.5M in media-partner deals cleared after a restructure.
For your money: if your deal is big and booster-backed, add a "restructure in good faith" clause.
06
Buyouts are real.
Rev-share contracts can carry exit fees, and some schools are suing to collect: Cincinnati ($1M), Ole Miss ($550K and $400K), FAU (half of remaining pay). Third parties can't pay your buyout to get around the cap. No court has ruled yet on whether these clauses hold up.
For your money: read the exit clause before you enter the portal. Negotiate one that shrinks every month.
ESPN β Β· FOS β Β· UPress β
07
Agents: no cap β yet.
No national limit on agent fees. Typical: ~5% on school and collective money, 15β20% on brand deals. Louisiana now requires NIL agents to register. A federal executive order calls for a national agent registry, and the Protect College Sports Act would cap fees at 5%.
For your money: every 1% on a $400K deal is $4,000. Negotiate tiered fees.
08
The eligibility clock changed.
NCAA Division I adopted a five-year, age-based eligibility model on June 23, 2026 β and it's already being challenged in court (Wisne v. NCAA).
For your money: more seasons can mean more paychecks. Confirm your clock with compliance before you plan around it.
09
It's all taxable. Even the free stuff.
Cash, product, cars, trips, crypto β taxed at fair market value. Many schools report rev share as royalties, which CPAs call untested. For 2026 payments, the 1099-NEC threshold rises to $2,000 β no form doesn't mean no tax.
For your money: set tax money aside from every check, and log anything you get that isn't cash.
10
Four tax dates a year.
Nobody withholds on NIL money. The IRS expects estimated payments on Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15 and Jan 15. You can skip January if you file by Feb 1 and pay in full.
For your money: miss them and penalties stack on top of what you already owe.
From the Brick by Brick Podcast
Hear it from people who've done it.
Episodes
Get the Bag, Keep the Bag: Real NIL Money Talk for Athletes
Matthew Bradley & Adam Seiko: Financial Literacy for College Athletes
Signed a FAKE Contract: How Athletes Get Scammed by Agents
Do Followers = Bigger NIL Deals? What Athletes Must Know
You Don't Need 10,000 Followers to Get Brand Deals β Jourdan Joseph
How the math works sources, assumptions, limits
Take-home calculator
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married) per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; the 20% QBI deduction with the athletics "specified service" phase-out (starts at $201,775 single / $403,550 married, over $75K / $150K; no W-2 wages assumed); self-employment tax on 92.35% of net earnings β 12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base plus 2.9% Medicare, and 0.9% Additional Medicare over $200K / $250K. Tax is incremental: what your NIL money adds on top of any other income. We assume everything lands in one tax year β the safe way to plan; the two-year estimate uses 2026 rates for both years. State tax is an estimate: real brackets for CA, NY, NJ, DC and Ohio (2026: 0% on the first $26,050, 2.75% above); flat-tax states at their flat rate; and for other graduated-rate states we use the top rate, which can overstate tax a lot at lower incomes. Ohio's deduction for business income isn't modeled, so Ohio may come out lower. Local and city income taxes (common in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana and NYC) aren't included. "Job wages / other income" is treated as W-2 wages, which share the Social Security wage base with your NIL earnings. "Royalty" treatment removes self-employment tax and the QBI deduction on the rev-share portion.
Retirement moves
2026 limits: IRA $7,500; Roth IRA phase-out $153Kβ$168K (single) / $242Kβ$252K (married); 401(k) deferral $24,500; total Solo 401(k) $72,000 (IRS, Nov 2025).
"Is my deal fair?"
A rough benchmark, not a price. Rev-share base values reflect a typical rotation player at a full-cap Power 4 school β built from the ~$21.58M 2026-27 cap and Opendorse's 2025-26 split (63.8% football, 20.9% MBB, 8% WBB, 7.3% other), set below the average because a few stars pull it up. Third-party NIL bases are rough P4 averages; NCAA data analyzed by Hokie Analytics put the Power 5 football median at $3,557 a year (2023-24). Multipliers are centered so an average athlete is about 1.0Γ. Use it to ask better questions, not to make a portal decision.
News
The NIL Wire pulls public RSS feeds from the outlets listed, refreshes about every 30 minutes and links every story to its original source. Headlines, photos and excerpts belong to their publishers.
Estimates only. Not financial, legal or tax advice. Talk to a CPA and a sports attorney who work for you.