High School NIL Arrives in Oklahoma and Bixby Isn’t Waiting

News is bubbling out of Bixby, Okla., that the powerhouse Spartan athletic program isn’t just chasing another state title, they’re chasing brand money. Bixby Public Schools has officially leaned into high school NIL by partnering with Opendorse, building a marketplace where their student-athletes can monetize their name, image, and likeness.

What Oklahoma’s High School NIL Rules Actually Allow

Here’s the deal: Oklahoma’s Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) released NIL guidelines that do allow high schoolers to cash in, but under tight guardrails. Athletes can be paid, but compensation can’t be tied to how well they perform, it can’t be part of a recruitment or enrollment pitch, and the district or school itself isn’t supposed to write the checks.

Even more tellingly, they can’t use school trademarks... no Spartan logos, no Bixby mascot, no uniform tie-ins, and even school facilities are off-limits for these endorsement-type deals.

In Bixby’s case, they spent $16,500 over three years to bring Opendorse on board. That may sound like a lot, but by doing it this way, students keep 100 percent of what they earn, and the district doesn’t risk running afoul of OSSAA rules. Opendorse also helps with education... webinars, training, and a six-step compliance process so that everything stays above board.

Why Bixby Partnered With Opendorse

On the athlete side, more than 15 Bixby students have already carved out their own Opendorse profiles. Some are charging as little as $12 for things like autographs, social-media posts, appearances... playground-level stuff, but meaningful for young athletes wanting a little “gas money.”

Still, not everyone’s thrilled. Kate Creekmore, Bixby’s athletic director, admits she’s a little nostalgic for the old high-school way, where kids played “for the love of the game.” But she also says her goal is simple: “make things available for our student-athletes,” give them a shot at building their brand responsibly.

What Bixby is doing feels like a signal: they aren’t just building a dynasty on the field, they’re building one off it too. And if they pull this off right, they’ll set a blueprint for other Oklahoma high schools trying to turn locker room star power into real-world value.