The historic House settlement decision came down last week, setting the tone for a new era of college sports. Athletic departments across the country now have a new set of rules to play by, from revenue sharing to roster limits, but it will not impact everyone the same way.

From sport to sport, the reaction will be different. In college basketball, there is widespread concern over how it could impact teams from the Power Four to the mid-major level. Clear answers might not emerge for several years as the adjustment it made, but the initial indicators point to clear winners and losers.

Here is a breakdown of which conferences and programs fit into each category moving forward.

Winners

Big East

The Big East conference enters the new era of college athletics with a unique position, bringing a group of programs which prioritize basketball over football into a world which artificially caps the ability of schools to invest in both. While the conversation surrounding the benefit could be outsized, it provides each coach with an easier view of the change.

Where the conversation on benefit moves past reality comes with the $20.5 million number. While that is the maximum, it is based on the incoming revenue. In the case of the Big East, the current TV deal disperses about $7 million to each school per year which is significantly less than the multi-sport conferences. This is not the full budget available, but is the largest sum of guaranteed money each school can count on.

Early projections for elite Power Four schools, which would have the full – or close to the full – sum, sit somewhere between $10-15 million to run football. The gap would then exist from many college basketball teams, but not all. Of course, there are many other programs on campus which need a slice of both pies.

Gonzaga

No program in the country positioned themselves better to benefit from the House settlement decision than Gonzaga. The long-time WCC powerhouse, which moved from mid-major darling to a blue-blood debate over the past 20-plus years, is set to join the new Pac-12.

In addition to added TV deal revenue and access to better competition, which would come with the conference move regardless of the changing landscape, there is a new leg up on the competition. Since the Bulldogs bring a basketball team and no football team to the conference, the ratio of revenue they are allowed to allocate under the salary cap will seem outsized.

Where many WCC teams will be on an even playing field under these rules, they hold an advantage over the existing Pac-12 teams and incoming Mountain West programs. Even when the revenue allocated is cut down based on the lack of football, the salary cap limits the opportunity of their rivals to keep up.

Lawyers

The House settlement was a large step forward for college athletics, finally hitting reset on a set of enforceable rules. However, from the clearing house designed to accept or reject NIL deals outside the $20.5 million paid by schools to the ongoing NCAA eligibility questions, there is plenty left to challenge.

Ultimately, without a collectively bargained agreement or congressional intervention, there are plenty lawsuits left to try. Even the future interaction between the NCAA and the new governing body remains a question which could require additional legal input to unpack.

Losers

Football powerhouses

No matter how much revenue a school makes, the cap is currently set at $20.5 million, with ambiguity on the ability to sign traditional NIL deals outside that. Given some projections that it will take close to $15 million to compete at the highest level in football, there is only a small slice left for men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball and Olympic sports to share.

For those teams expected to compete in the College Football Playoff every season, the basketball staff will have to accept less money than their competition in the NCAA Tournament. It is a give-and-take which has existed on a different scale for years, with facility upgrades and staffing decisions being prioritized for one program over the others but takes on a new life here.

These schools still have plenty to offer, with new Texas basketball coach Sean Miller addressing the pros and cons of his move this offseason. Based on their commitment to making it happen, and standing in the sport, many of these teams will kind a way to maximize their opportunity and invest in success.

Traditional mid-major

Perhaps the biggest loser in the House settlement decision is the traditional mid-major program, which continues to move further away from relevance as the power conferences leave them behind financially.

The AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt were all viewed as challengers who challengers who could at least provide a fun storyline at one time. They are now further reduced to feeder schools in this model, given the lack of TV deal money and revenue share to spend.

Where the Big East can counter the money gap with a commitment to one sport, these conferences compete across all sports. That leaves them with less money than the competition across the board, allowing specialized schools to pass them with no recourse outside of program-slashing decisions.

Rule-following

Unfortunately, one of the consequences of a return to concrete rules is the inevitable desire to bend them. With the gray area of outside NIL deals already a potential sticking point, there is no question that the governing bodies of college sports will ramp up the number of investigations once again.

While no one particularly likes living in the “Wild West” era of college sports, a return to rules will not reduce the number of outlaws – especially when they are all publicly aware of the treasure chest the current model allowed them to access.

“Winning the Honda Award is an incredible honor that not only represents me, but also my teammates, coaches and family,” said Canady. “I am so grateful to represent this sport!”

A Topeka, Kansas native, Canady was named a consensus First Team All-American by the NFCA, D1Softball and Softball America. Canady was also named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player and a member of the 2025 WCWS All-Tournament Team.

Canady led the nation in wins (34), ranked second nationally in ERA (1.11) and strikeouts (319), third in hits allowed (3.88), and was fourth in strikes-to-walk ratio (6.62) in route to being named the NFCA Pitcher of the Year and a top three finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year.

About the award:

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 49 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, signifying “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The recipient of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 30, at 7 pm ET, in New York City

ESPN Events, in collaboration with the Charlotte Sports Foundation, announces the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, a new men’s college basketball event that will annually honor Dick Vitale, the Hall of Fame broadcaster and one of the sport’s most iconic voices and ambassadors, who celebrates his 86th birthday.

The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational will feature a marquee matchup between national powers –Texas Longhorns vs. Duke Blue Devils – at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., in the opening days of the 2025-26 season. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, on ESPN. Tip-off time will be announced at a later date.

In addition to the ESPN Events plans, ESPN has signed Vitale to a new multi-year contract through the 2027–28 season, which will extend the Hall of Fame analyst’s tenure with the company to nearly 50 years. (Note: ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro recently made this surprise announcement at Vitale’s annual Gala in Sarasota, Fla.: VIDEO).

“Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,” says Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN. “Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport. We are also thrilled that Dick will remain a signature voice on ESPN through the 2027-28 season.”

Since joining ESPN during its first year in 1979, Vitale has called more than 1,000 games. His unmistakable passion and signature style have helped shape the college basketball experience for fans for more than four decades, while cementing his legacy as one of the most beloved and enduring figures in sports broadcasting history. Vitale’s countless accolades include induction into the Naismith Basketball and Sports Broadcasting Halls of Fame. Most recently, he received the Dean Smith Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), and was introduced by former ESPN President George Bodenheimer as The New York Athletic Club’s Winged Foot Award recipient.

“ESPN has been such a vital part of my life since December 5, 1979, and I was so thrilled to learn that ESPN Events will have an annual Dick Vitale Invitational,” says Vitale. “Jimmy Pitaro and all my colleagues and friends at ESPN have been so good to me and I am so thankful for all of the prayers and love I have received from them during my cancer battles. ESPN has been family to me and has given me a life that has been even better than my dreams. To the Vitale family, ESPN is ‘Awesome, baby’ with a capital A!”

Through the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund, the V Foundation has granted over $105 million in research grants advancing childhood cancer treatments and care.  Dick’s tireless dedication over the last two decades has made a lasting difference in the lives of countless children and families.

ESPN has previously teamed with the Charlotte Sports Foundation for the Jumpman Invitational (men’s and women’s) and Ally Tipoff basketball events.

Image credit:
Chris Pollard (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Virginia is expected to hire longtime Duke head coach Chris Pollard to replace Brian O’Connor, sources have told Baseball America.

Pollard’s Blue Devils were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament on Monday night, falling to four-seed Murray State in a shocking Durham Super Regional result. The series loss closed the book on a 41-win season that included a 17-13 mark in ACC play and marked the end of a historic 14-year run in Durham.

Pollard departs as Duke’s all-time wins leader and the architect of the most successful era in program history. When he arrived in 2013, Duke hadn’t reached the NCAA Tournament in over 50 years. Under Pollard’s guidance, the Blue Devils became a perennial contender, earning seven regional berths, four super regional appearances and national respect in a league filled with college baseball blue bloods.

Now, Pollard is set to inherit a UVA program that went to Omaha six times under O’Connor and has the infrastructure, talent base and NIL resources to sustain that level of excellence. The move marks a rare ACC-to-ACC jump between two high-profile jobs and reflects the esteem in which Pollard is held throughout the coaching community.

Longtime Duke assistant Josh Jordan is widely viewed as the favorite to replace Pollard at Duke after spending a decade as his top assistant in Durham from 2012-22. Jordan has been a key piece in LSU’s recruiting efforts since then, including having a hand in putting together the Tigers’ national title-winning team in 2023.

Jordan joined the Duke staff as recruiting coordinator in June 2012 and was promoted to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator by Pollard three years later. In addition to managing Duke’s recruiting activities, Jordan worked with the Blue Devils’ catchers and outfielders, helping to guide them back to the postseason for the first time in over half a century.

Virginia’s vacancy was among the most coveted in the country. In 21 years, O’Connor built it into a model of sustained success—highlighted by a 2015 national title, dozens of MLB draft picks and a culture that blended development with high expectations. Finding a successor to that legacy was never going to be simple.

Pollard, though, checks every box.

He’s proven he can win in a challenging academic setting. He’s shown an ability to develop deep rosters and maximize talent. And though he’s deeply rooted at Duke, the chance to lead one of the best-resourced programs in the ACC—and a consistent Omaha threat—was always going to be difficult to turn down.

Pollard, a North Carolina native and former Appalachian State coach, has long operated with a sense of loyalty and purpose, and is among the ACC’s most respected voices in recent conversations around roster regulation, NIL structuring and the future of college baseball. 

In Charlottesville, he’ll inherit a team with sky-high expectations. O’Connor’s departure left a void, but Virginia didn’t stay idle long. It went after the proven winner it wanted from the jump.

The landmark settlement in House v. NCAA has sent shockwaves through all of college sports, not just football. Now, schools can directly fund their athletes’ NIL with a cap of $20.5 per school spread out across all sports. Ohio State fields 36 intercollegiate sports, and it intends to continue to do so in the wake of this decision.

Ohio State’s Department of Athletics and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties have announced the formation of Buckeye Sports Group. Learfield is Ohio State’s multimedia rights holder and provides partners with media opportunities. BSG is designed to support, streamline, and enhance the Buckeyes’ NIL.

Prior to the settlement, Ohio State had two major NIL collectives: THE Foundation and The 1870 Society. BSG will utilize both in an advisory capacity while consolidating the pair under a single, unified marketing team.

“We’re incredibly thankful for everything our NIL collective’s leadership, businesses, and donors have done to support our student-athletes,” Ross Bjork, Senior Vice President and Athletics Director, said. “Their commitment has helped shape the landscape in powerful ways. As we move forward with a more unified approach, we’re excited to combine efforts and further strengthen the NIL success of our student-athletes.”

Ohio State Announces ‘Buckeye Sports Group’ Amid House Decision

Key Elements

An interesting but key element of the settlement and “salary cap” is the implementation of what they call a Fair Market Evaluation process and a “range of compensation.” Ideally, this will establish benchmarks across sports regarding NIL. BSG will handle brand deals, corporate sponsorships, storytelling, and NIL support. Already, Buckeye athletes have secured over 500 NIL brand partnerships. 

“Ohio State has always been a leader in college athletics, and this initiative is another step forward to build upon our strong NIL foundation,” said Carey Hoyt, Ohio State’s Deputy Director of Athletics. “By combining the power of our athletic brand with Learfield’s expansive network, we are creating an innovative, full-service approach to NIL that directly benefits our student-athletes.”

NIL Strategy

According to the press release, BSG will support Ohio State’s student-athletes with comprehensive efforts within three key areas: deal facilitation and management, content creation and storytelling, and support services.

• NIL Deal Facilitation & Management
  • Negotiating and securing brand partnerships locally, regionally, and nationally;
  • Overseeing contract preparation and fair market value assessments;
  • Utilizing analytics to track NIL performance and return on investment.
• Content Creation & Student-Athlete Storytelling, powered by Learfield Studios
  • Creating athlete-driven digital content, including social media campaigns, video series, and podcasts;
  • Leveraging Learfield’s Fanbase data and digital expertise to optimize distribution across social media and digital channels.
  • Providing marketing resources for brand collaborations to maximize results, including the use of Ohio State marks, logos, and access to campus facilities;
• Athlete Support & Services
  • Providing financial literacy and tax support through partnerships with industry experts;
  • Offering branding and social media growth training to help athletes build their personal brands.
  • Connecting student-athletes with brand partners to provide business experience, micro-internships, and build professional networking relationships with companies.

Read More: Does The Big Ten ‘Deserve’ Multiple AQs in the CFP?

 A Whole New World

The House decision, like most of the changes to college football, benefits Ohio State in a way. Compared to the rest of the schools in Ohio, the Buckeyes are set to not only survive in the ever-changing landscape, but it is built to thrive.

The Buckeye Sports Group partnership looks to maximize the earning potential of student-athletes. This looks to strengthen Ohio State’s already strong brand value. Additionally, it aims to create a sustainable NIL ecosystem that benefits the university, athletes, and brands equally.

Todd Kinsley, Vice President and General Manager of Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties, provided a statement: “As we enter a new era for college athletics, we’re excited to build on our past successes and create even more meaningful NIL opportunities for Ohio State student-athletes. Buckeyes have excelled both on and off the field, and we’re committed to amplifying that momentum. We also recognize the unique potential of our footprint in Columbus, one of the fastest-growing metro markets, for impactful deal-making. With the strength of Buckeye Nation behind us, we’re able to unlock incremental opportunities for partnerships on a local, regional, and national scale.”

Much was made of Ohio State’s alleged $20 million roster that won the national championship last year. While we may not know the actual, concrete number because online reporting has been more speculation than reporting, Ohio State had one of the most expensive rosters in the nation. Other schools reportedly spent more, but it’s moot at this point.

Will the deals be public knowledge under this new system? Will we be able to see an actual, tangible number? Time will tell. Regardless, with the swiftness of this announcement, it’s obvious that Ohio State was preparing for this brand-new world in which it finds itself.

Main Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images