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The road ahead after the NCAA settlement comes with risk, reward and warnings

Two days after the approval of a groundbreaking $2.8 billion antitrust settlement, thousands of athletic directors and department personnel traveled to Orlando, Florida, for the annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention. The hot topic, of course, was the influx of changes both threatening and beneficial for schools across the country. According to […]

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1 month ago

June 15, 2025

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The hot topic, of course, was the influx of changes both threatening and beneficial for schools across the country. According to NCAA President Charlie Baker, approval of the settlement may be the biggest change in college sports history. On July 1, schools that opt in to the settlement will embark on a new era of revenue sharing, changing the game both on and off the field.

Rewards

A handful of convention attendees breathed a sigh of relief on Friday night when U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken announced her decision. It’s a quick turnaround and a period of trial and error is anticipated, but Division I athletic directors welcomed the news.

“The best thing is clarity,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said. “The best thing about July 1 is we now have clarity on the rules of engagement, what we’re allowed to do, how we can move forward. Does it solve everything? No, it doesn’t. But when you have clarity, you can operate more efficiently and effectively.”

Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart was relieved to get the agreement in hand.

“We’ve been trying for so long to be part of this,” Barnhart said. “Maybe, just maybe, on July 1, we’ll sort of all know where we are on this one.”

Barnhart added that the College Sports Commission, an entity that will enforce compliance and set market value for NIL deals, will be a major positive.

“The College Sports Commission and the way that is coming around gives us guardrails and enforcement in a way that we can move forward collectively, together, for college sports,” Barnhart said.

Risks

In a settlement where high-revenue sport athletes have the most to gain, Title IX has emerged as a topic to watch.

The 75-15-5-5 formula has emerged as a popular revenue-sharing formula, meaning that schools are likely to allocate 75% of revenue-share funds to football, 15% to men’s basketball, 5% to women’s basketball and the remaining 5% dispersed to other programs. If a school spent the full $20.5 million allowed this coming year, that would mean a breakdown of $15.4 million for football, $3.1 million for men’s hoops and about $1 million each for women’s hoops and everyone else.

Montoya Ho-Song, an attorney for Ackerman LLP who specializes in higher education issues, expects Title IX lawsuits to come, just like one filed this week by eight female athletes. The area has shifted again under President Donald Trump, with guidance suggesting the federal government won’t hold schools to rigid requirements to distribute proceeds equitably between men and women.

“There are definitely going to be legal challenges related to this revenue-sharing model. I always tell my clients, look, your student athletes’ perceptions are their reality. If they think that they are not being treated equally, they will raise those concerns,” Ho-Song said.

She warned that the 75-15-5-5 formula shouldn’t be a one size fits all and suggested dividing revenue based on how it comes in isn’t a valid argument. The majority of rev-share funds going to football and basketball programs, especially when coupled with losing records, will inevitably stir the pot.

“Just because there is a 75-15-5-5 budget breakdown, that does not mean that that’s going to work on all campuses,” she said. “The analysis under Title IX is making sure that it is available and everyone has the same type of access to non-grant funds. So, you do have to figure out a way to creatively divvy up those funds, but always keep in mind, if someone feels as if they’re not being treated correctly, then that is always a legal risk.”

Warnings

Attorney Mit Winter, a college sports law specialist with Kennyhertz Perry, said it is paramount that athletic departments present an organized, united front.

Since the launch of name, image, and likeness compensation four years ago, Winter said, he has encountered several instances where athletic departments are giving conflicting statements and numbers to current and prospective athletes. That can lead to legal headaches, too.

“You need to have a plan that everyone is on board with and that everyone knows,” Winter said. “As a school, you don’t want to have a situation where five different people are talking to an athlete about how much they’re going to pay him or her. I think that needs to be much more formalized. The coach, assistant coaches, GM, everybody needs to be on the same page.”

St. Bonaventure men’s basketball general manager Adrian Wojnarowski and coach Mark Schmidt know exactly what their roles are — and aren’t.

“I will never talk to a player or a parent or an agent about playing time, their role,” Wojnarowski said. “During the season, if someone is disappointed in playing time and they call, the only conversation I’m having with a family member is supporting the head coach, supporting the coaching staff. And in the end, that’s a conversation for their son to have with the head coach. Then economically, we have to have one clear message in negotiations and finances.”

Impacts

There are concerns that the revenue-sharing era will have multiple impacts on college rosters.

Few athletic directors were willing to talk in any detail about plans for their campuses, but some of the moves have already begun in the search for more money to fulfill the details of the NCAA settlement: UTEP dropped women’s tennis, Cal Poly discontinued swimming and diving, Marquette added women’s swimming and Grand Canyon shuttered its men’s volleyball program. The athletic director at Cal noted the school expects to lose about 100 athletes.

Just how many of the so-called non-revenue sports — the ones that often feed U.S. Olympic teams — will be affected is also a concern. And many programs will need to find a niche that works for them, even if that means not consistently contending for national championships.

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Keldric Faulk Helps Pay Walk-On’s Tuition With NIL Paycheck

© Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Audio By Carbonatix Keldric Faulk may very well be the best teammate in college football. The Auburn star had a telling admission while in Atlanta for SEC Media Days. The edge rusher gave a portion of his own personal NIL paycheck to a walk-on player on the Tigers roster. He showed […]

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10 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

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Keldric Faulk of Auburn at SEC Media Days

Audio By Carbonatix

Keldric Faulk may very well be the best teammate in college football. The Auburn star had a telling admission while in Atlanta for SEC Media Days.

The edge rusher gave a portion of his own personal NIL paycheck to a walk-on player on the Tigers roster. He showed his selflessness by helping a friend in need.

Faulk is one of the top players on the Auburn defense. The junior racked up 45 tackles a year ago, 11 of which came behind the line of scrimmage. An absolute menace for opposing backfields, he tallied seven sacks.

The pass rusher hopes to become a first-round NFL Draft pick when all is said and done. He’ll have the option to leave after the 2025 campaign with another big year. And there’s certainly a buzz surrounding his professional future.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid tabbed the third-year player as a Top 10 pick in his first 2026 mock draft.

“Faulk [is] a 6-6 edge rusher with a stout base. He can play multiple alignments… He’s already one of the best run defenders in the country.”

-Jordan Reid

CBS Sports echoed that outlook, projecting him to go No. 7 overall. “Faulk has prototypical size for a power edge,” the site wrote.

Keldric Faulk is a star both on and off the field.

The defender knows that he’s been blessed with elite God-given abilities. Those football traits have already translated to NIL wealth. They’ll have a chance to help him land a professional paycheck someday, too.

Faulk understands that not everyone is as fortunate as he is. So, when a teammate needed help, he offered a helping hand.

“Whenever I did help him out, it was a great thing for me, just to help somebody else just because I’ve been blessed so much. To bless him and help him out in his time of need, it was one of the best things I ever did.”

-Keldric Faulk

Hugh Freeze spoke highly of Faulk.

The head coach commented further on his superstar’s generosity. He expects nothing less.

“Keldric, many people don’t know, is also one of the most giving and unselfish people I know,” Freeze said. “He helped one of our current walk-ons the other day with some of his NIL money who was having a hard time trying to stay in school. That’s the kind of guy he is, and we’re fortunate to have him.”

Freeze confirmed that a walk-on player was having trouble with tuition and other college expenses. Keldric Faulk stepped in without hesitation.

On3 Sports currently puts the defender’s NIL valuation at $1 million. He decided he didn’t need it all for himself. It’s something we’ve seen in the past from other college football stars.

Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter reportedly funded NIL salaries of 10-15 teammates at Colorado last year without taking a dime from the school’s collective. He earned his money through outside endorsements and decided to share the wealth.

Hunter would go onto become a first-round NFL Draft pick following a monster junior year. Many hope to see the same for Faulk.

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Charles Barkley Calls NCAA ‘A Bunch Of Idiots’ Because Of NIL

Add NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley to the growing list of people upset with the direction of college athletics. The outspoken Barkley did not hold back in his assessment, calling the NCAA “a bunch of idiots” in response to the major transformation in college athletics, particularly the arrival of Name, Image and Likeness revenue […]

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11 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

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Add NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley to the growing list of people upset with the direction of college athletics.

The outspoken Barkley did not hold back in his assessment, calling the NCAA “a bunch of idiots” in response to the major transformation in college athletics, particularly the arrival of Name, Image and Likeness revenue for student-athletes and the Transfer Portal, which has brought free agency to the NCAA.

“College athletics is so f—d up right now,” Barkley said in a recent interview with AL.com. “I don’t know what they’re gonna do to fix this thing. It’s out of control. I don’t know how you’re gonna put toothpaste back in the tube.”

NIL revenue has dramatically changed the culture of college sports with athletes pursuing schools based on the amount of NIL money a school is offering. High school athletes are now bringing agents and financial advisors to the table when talking to college coaches and recruiters.

Barkley isn’t the only high-profile sports figure concerned with the impact NIL is having on college athletics, specifically football and basketball, the NCAA’s highest revenue sports. University of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders wants the NCAA to consider implementing a “salary cap” to regulate how much NIL money schools can have in their budgets.

Barkley said the current state of college athletics has caused him to modify his financial commitments to Auburn University, his alma mater. Barkley has been a longtime contributor to the athletic programs at Auburn, where he played from 1981-84.

“There’s not a single person in the world who has given more money to Auburn, legal or illegal, than me,” Barkley said. “But the notion that I’m gonna give millions of dollars every year to Auburn to help them be good in basketball and football…that’s not gonna happen. Anybody who thinks that is just stupid.”

Barkley left Auburn after his junior year. He was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1984 draft by Philadelphia.

Ray Richardson is a contributor to Back In Day Hoops On SI. He can be reached at RayRich55@gmail.com

Follow our coverage on Facebook or X: @RayRich55

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Top NIL Deals – July 7, 2025

Data provided by Student Athlete Score (July 15th, 2025) – Each week, we highlight NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals signed by college athletes across the country, powered by verified data from Student Athlete Score. The week of July 7th, 2025, featured high-profile partnerships from powerhouse brands like EA SPORTS, C4 Energy, and Hoka. Standout […]

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14 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

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Data provided by Student Athlete Score

(July 15th, 2025) – Each week, we highlight NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals signed by college athletes across the country, powered by verified data from Student Athlete Score. The week of July 7th, 2025, featured high-profile partnerships from powerhouse brands like EA SPORTS, C4 Energy, and Hoka. Standout athletes from LSU Football, North Carolina Basketball, Colorado Track & Field, and more made headlines with new NIL opportunities, reflecting the continued evolution of athlete brand power across multiple sports and schools.

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Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast: Pitt WSOC in transition with Ben and Randy Waldrum

Photo courtesy John Krysinsky In May, Pitt women’s soccer program announced an official change in leadership, with Randy Waldrum stepping into a new role as Technical Director, while Ben Waldrum is taking over as the team’s Head Coach. All in the family: Pitt Women’s Soccer names Ben Waldrum head coach For the first time since […]

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16 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

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Photo courtesy John Krysinsky

In May, Pitt women’s soccer program announced an official change in leadership, with Randy Waldrum stepping into a new role as Technical Director, while Ben Waldrum is taking over as the team’s Head Coach.

All in the family: Pitt Women’s Soccer names Ben Waldrum head coach

For the first time since the transition took place, Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s John Krysinsky had a chance to visit Pitt’s Peterson Sports Complex and sit down with the father and son duo who have led Pitt women’s soccer to its most successful era and has reached its greatest heights since they arrived in 2018.

In this exclusive, in-depth interview, which can be heard on Podcast formats in two parts and one part on PSN’s YouTube Channel, among the topics discussed included:

Audio Podcast Part I

Audio Podcast Part II

Final thoughts on last season and the program’s make-up in what will also be a transitional season with many new faces along with some key returnees
What are three qualities that stand out to Randy and Ben about each other

and much more.

AUDIO PODCAST PART I

AUDIO PODCAST PART II

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Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: NCAA roster size changes for 2025 add twist to mid-year movement

* What is the House Settlement?

Grant House is a former Arizona State swimmer who sued the defendants (the NCAA and the five biggest athletic conferences in the nation). His lawsuit and two others were combined and over several years the dispute wound up with the settlement that ends a decades-old prohibition on schools cutting checks directly to athletes. Now, each school will be able to make payments to athletes for use of their name, image and likeness (NIL). For reference, there are nearly 200,000 athletes and 350 schools in Division I alone and 500,000 and 1,100 schools across the entire NCAA.

In Year 1, each school can share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes, a number that represents 22% of their revenue from things like media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne famously told Congress “those are resources and revenues that don’t exist.” Some of the money will come via ever-growing TV rights packages, especially for the College Football Playoff. But some schools are increasing costs to fans through “talent fees,” concession price hikes and “athletic fees” added to tuition costs.

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of ‘Miracle on the Mon’ — a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

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Tennessee Coach Reflects on Nico Iamaleava’s Departure After Reported NIL Dispute

The Tennessee Volunteers underwent a massive change this offseason as quarterback Nico Iamaleava unexpectedly ended up hitting the transfer portal. Iamaleava spent his first two seasons with Tennessee, but amid reports that he was looking for a bigger NIL deal with the Volunteers, he skipped practice the day before the team’s spring game, and Tennessee […]

Published

37 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The Tennessee Volunteers underwent a massive change this offseason as quarterback Nico Iamaleava unexpectedly ended up hitting the transfer portal.

Iamaleava spent his first two seasons with Tennessee, but amid reports that he was looking for a bigger NIL deal with the Volunteers, he skipped practice the day before the team’s spring game, and Tennessee coach Josh Heupel decided they would be moving on from him. Iamaleava has since transferred to UCLA, which is also close to where he grew up.

Heupel, who notably said, “no one is bigger than the Power T” in the wake of the drama surrounding Iamaleava in the spring, addressed his departure again during SEC Media Days this week. Heupel reflected on why it was hard to see Iamaleava leave, but also expressed that he believes the quarterback will still have a great career.

“Our football team, they cared about Nico,” Heupel said on the set of SEC Now, via Creg Stephenson of Alabama.com. “Nico’s going to be a great player and he’s going to have a great career. I love Nico. It was hard for the players in that moment, but in leadership of any kind, having clear, consistent transparent communication and also timely, in that it allows your people to handle it the best that they can.”

Heupel shared some nice sentiments toward Iamaleava, but made it clear that their focus is now on who’s taking over the quarterback position, not the events that unfolded this past spring.

“It’s quarterback, it’s unique in some way, but you’ve got to have a ‘next man up’ mentality,” Heupel said, via Stephenson. “It’s going to happen to every team in college football across the landscape of the season. Quarterback’s no different in that way. Our guys have handled the change, transition — whatever you want to call it, in a very positive way. Outside noise, you try not pay to much attention to it. Expectations may have changed from outside the building after that moment, but they haven’t changed inside the locker room.”

Heupel reinforced that “next man up” mentality during his time at SEC Media Days. The Volunteers have not selected their starting quarterback, and will have a competition featuring Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger, and George MacIntyre as fall camp gets underway. Aguilar notably transferred to Tennessee after Iamaleava left for the Bruins, and is the most experienced quarterback of the three.

Whichever quarterback wins the job will be tasked with leading Tennessee as they open the season against Syracuse on Aug. 30.

More College Football on Sports Illustrated

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Gonzaga to participate in new revenue sharing model

Gonzaga has officially entered the new era of college athletics. Gonzaga and the other eight full-time members of the West Coast Conference — Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Pacific — have decided to participate in the new revenue sharing model that’s been implemented for the 2025-26 academic […]

Published

52 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Gonzaga has officially entered the new era of college athletics.

Gonzaga and the other eight full-time members of the West Coast Conference — Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Pacific — have decided to participate in the new revenue sharing model that’s been implemented for the 2025-26 academic year, according to the College Sports Commission, the new organization in charge of overseeing NIL deals.

Starting July 1, schools that opted into the new revenue-sharing model spelled out in the landmark House v. NCAA settlement are allowed to share up to $20.5 million per academic year directly with their student-athletes. While a majority of institutions aren’t expected to reach that number, those in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC plan on it, with football players likely to receive a majority of the funds.

According to the College Sports Commission — assigned to facilitate and regulate NIL deals in the wake of the House settlement — schools outside the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC will have the option to opt in to or out of revenue sharing each year. That’s significant for Gonzaga and the other future members of the Pac-12, as the league’s standing in the college sports hierarchy has been in limbo for roughly a year now. The College Sports Commission’s announcement is the closest the Pac-12 has come to being mentioned as an autonomy conference since the league lost 10 members to the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12, reducing its count to just Washington State and Oregon State for one more season before welcoming seven new schools to the mix in 2026.

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Utah State and Texas State join Oregon State and Washington State to form a new-look Pac-12 conference on July 1, 2026. All nine schools opted into the revenue-sharing plan for this season.

Seattle U, which is set to become a WCC member in 2026, has also opted into the revenue-sharing plan heading into its final season as part of the Western Athletic Conference.

The revenue-sharing cap is expected to increase by around 4% — about $1 million — each year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, ending at an estimated $32.9 million in 2034-35.