There’s been a big shakeup in Ohio high school sports. Ohio House Bill 661 is aiming to ban name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals for high school athletes, which is a pretty bold move. The bill comes as a direct response to the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s (OHSAA) recent decision to allow NIL deals. People are talking—St. Xavier head football coach Steve Specht and Mason City Schools Superintendent Jonathan Cooper have both jumped into the discussion, each worried about what these deals could mean for young athletes. Let’s try to untangle what’s going on with this bill, the arguments swirling around it, and where NIL fits in the bigger picture of high school sports.
The Genesis of House Bill 661
House Bill 661 was dropped into the Ohio legislature on February 4, 2026, thanks to Representatives Adam Bird and Mike Odioso. The main goal? Ban NIL deals for high schoolers and anyone younger. This all kicked off after the OHSAA, responding to an emergency referendum in November, let Ohio’s athletes start accepting NIL deals.
That emergency vote happened after a lawsuit from Jamier Brown, an Ohio State University football commit who played for Dayton powerhouse Wayne High School last fall. Brown’s case really put a spotlight on just how complicated and messy NIL deals can get at the high school level.
Proponents of the Ban
Coach Steve Specht from St. Xavier and Superintendent Jonathan Cooper from Mason City Schools have both been loud and clear in supporting the ban. They showed up to the Ohio House Education Committee meeting on February 17 to make their case for House Bill 661. Specht worries about a total lack of regulation and what he calls “pay-to-play” situations popping up.
He pointed to linebacker Luke Ferrelli, who switched schools several times, supposedly because of tampering tied to NIL deals. Specht insists there have to be some “guardrails” to stop athletes from being paid just to jump from one program to another.
Cooper’s got a different angle. He’s seeing culture shifts in schools thanks to NIL deals—suddenly, everyone’s talking about personal branding and social media, which feels pretty far from the usual team-first mindset. He also wonders if students are ready for the financial pressure and new responsibilities, especially since high schools don’t really have the resources to protect minors in these situations.
The OHSAA’s Emergency Referendum
Back in November, the OHSAA held an emergency vote to lift the NIL ban and set up some rules for what kinds of deals athletes can actually make. The results weren’t even close: 447 for, 121 against, and 247 schools just didn’t vote at all. On November 24, the OHSAA announced Ohio would become the 45th state to allow high school athletes to sign NIL deals.
The new rules say athletes can’t do deals with companies tied to gambling, alcohol, or anything else “inappropriate.” NIL deals also can’t be used as recruiting tools, and athletes aren’t allowed to show off sponsored products during official team activities.
Concerns About Regulation and Impact on Team Culture
One of the big worries from folks backing House Bill 661 is just how unregulated NIL deals feel right now. Specht and Cooper both keep coming back to the need for clear rules so students don’t get taken advantage of and everything stays above board. There’s also this fear of “pay-to-play”—athletes moving to whatever school offers the best deal, which could really mess with team dynamics and give wealthier schools a big edge.
Cooper’s especially uneasy about how NIL talk is shifting the focus away from teamwork and toward individual branding. It’s easy to imagine students getting distracted from schoolwork and personal growth if they’re too busy chasing deals.
The Broader Context of NIL in High School Sports
The NIL conversation at the high school level is really just one part of a much bigger debate about money in amateur sports. College athletes have been cashing in on their name, image, and likeness since 2021, but bringing that down to high school kids? That’s a different ballgame, and it opens up a can of ethical and practical questions. Some people say athletes deserve to profit from their talent and effort, while others are worried about exploitation and the slow death of amateurism.
Potential Benefits of NIL Deals
Still, there are upsides to letting high school athletes sign NIL deals. For some kids, it’s a way to help out their families financially or just get a little independence. It can feel like a fair reward for all the hours they put in, and it gives them a chance to turn their popularity into something tangible. There’s also the argument that NIL deals can teach young athletes about business, branding, and managing money—skills that could stick with them for life.
Challenges and Considerations
But let’s be real—there are plenty of challenges, too. High schoolers are still kids, and keeping them safe means having strong oversight and rules in place. Most schools just don’t have the staff or resources to guide students through all the legal and financial stuff that comes with NIL. Plus, with so much emphasis on deals and branding, it’s easy to see how the focus could drift away from academics and personal growth, with athletes feeling like their marketability matters more than their game or grades.
Conclusion
Ohio House Bill 661 has landed right in the middle of the heated NIL debate in high school sports. The OHSAA’s emergency referendum cracked the door open for athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness.
But now, this bill is calling for a pause—maybe a moment to breathe—and some clearer rules. Steve Specht and Jonathan Cooper have both weighed in, each highlighting just how tangled and tricky NIL deals can get.
There’s a real need for careful thought and solid guardrails here. If you want to dig deeper, the full article is up on the Cincinnati Enquirer.
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