Ohio Court Ruling Allows High School Athletes to Profit from NIL

In a landmark decision on October 20, 2025, Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jaiza Page issued a temporary restraining order permitting Ohio high school athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This ruling challenges the Ohio High School Athletic Association's (OHSAA) longstanding prohibition on such earnings.

The court's decision stems from a lawsuit filed by Jasmine Brown on behalf of her son, Jamier Brown, a junior at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. Jamier, recognized as the top wide receiver prospect in the class of 2027 and a verbal commit to Ohio State University, has reportedly missed out on over $100,000 in potential NIL deals due to the OHSAA's existing regulations.

Ohio was one of six states—alongside Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and Wyoming—that prohibited high school athletes from receiving NIL compensation. The majority of states have adopted policies permitting such earnings, reflecting a national trend toward expanding NIL rights from collegiate to high school athletes.

In 2022, OHSAA member schools voted against an NIL proposal by a margin of 538 to 254. The OHSAA Board of Directors had planned to revisit the NIL policy with another vote in May 2026. However, the recent court ruling may expedite this timeline. OHSAA spokesperson Tim Stried indicated that the organization is preparing communications regarding the next steps for member schools.

Attorney Luke Fedlam, representing the Brown family, emphasized the significance of the ruling: "This is a significant ruling not only for Jamier but high school athletes across the state of Ohio. There are 44 states that allow high school athletes to enjoy that benefit through NIL."

Fedlam also highlighted the differences between high school and collegiate NIL regulations: "It's important for folks to understand high school NIL is different from college NIL. There are guardrails that have been in place that protect the integrity of sport and competition. In college we have seen collectives for NIL to recruit and retain. That does not exist at the high school level. Most states have the regulations that do not allow collectives and how they can transfer and maintain eligibility."

The temporary restraining order is set to last until a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for December 15, 2025. This period will be crucial for stakeholders to assess the impact of the ruling and consider potential policy adjustments.

In response to the court's decision, the OHSAA has announced plans to conduct an emergency referendum vote concerning NIL within a 45-day period. Each member high school will have one vote, cast by the principal. The outcome of this vote will determine whether the OHSAA will shape its own NIL bylaw or if the matter will continue to be decided through the courts.

Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director, stated, "We anticipated a lawsuit would come any day, and our Board of Directors has already approved the language of an NIL bylaw referendum for our schools to vote on. We are thankful for the 45-day window so our schools will have time to learn more about this referendum and to vote on our proposed language for NIL."

As the legal proceedings unfold, Ohio high school athletes now have the opportunity to engage in endorsement deals, sponsorships, and other profit-generating activities tied to their personal brand. This development aligns Ohio with the broader national movement toward recognizing and compensating young athletes for their personal brands.