The NCAA has barred Oklahoma State University from placing QR codes on their football players’ helmets, which would have enabled fans to directly link to a team fund and contribute to the program’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) pool. The university announced this decision before their game against South Dakota State. Oklahoma State believed the QR codes fell under permissible institutional decals according to NCAA bylaws. However, the NCAA classified the QR codes as advertising, which is not allowed.
These QR codes were small, 1.5-inch decals featuring the players’ names and numbers. While they weren’t designed to be visible from the stands, they would have been noticeable during close-up shots on broadcasts and in postgame photos shared on social media.
Although the QR codes won’t be appearing on helmets, Oklahoma State plans to display them prominently elsewhere in Boone Pickens Stadium, including on the massive 6,160-square-foot video board.
Oklahoma State Athletic Director Chad Weiberg expressed disappointment in the NCAA’s ruling, emphasizing that the QR codes were a creative approach to enhancing the NIL opportunities for student-athletes. He noted that this situation highlights how college sports are evolving faster than the current rulebook.
Head coach Mike Gundy also supported the initiative, calling it a “revolutionary step” to keep the program competitive in the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics.
Despite the setback, Oklahoma State remains committed to pushing for changes that align with the innovative ways they seek to support their athletes.
