They Pulled Off Huge March Madness Upsets. Now They're Opting Out of Revenue Sharing
UNITED STATES, JUL 17 – Several colleges, including Ivy League schools and past NCAA tournament upset teams, declined the new revenue sharing model citing costs and institutional policies, with only 10 of 68 men’s schools opting out.
- By June 30, Division I institutions were required to choose whether to participate in the NCAA’s new revenue-sharing program impacting numerous athletic departments.
- A number of smaller institutions, such as those known for surprising runs in March Madness over the past decade, declined to participate in the new revenue sharing system, citing concerns over financial impacts and restrictions on team roster sizes.
- The decision by the University of Central Arkansas to opt out was largely influenced by concerns over roster size restrictions tied to revenue sharing, which they believe could impact tuition income and the flexibility of their athletic programs, as explained by their athletic director.
- The NCAA House Settlement, effective July 1, mandates schools directly pay athletes and requires at least $10 million in shared benefits over three years, causing many schools to adjust budgets and lay off staff.
- While most Division I schools joined the revenue-sharing system, opt-outs highlight financial and structural challenges that could affect program sustainability and athlete opportunities going forward.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Hoppy Kercheval: WVU athletics needs big revenue boost to stay relevant (Opinion)
Final approval of the multi-billion-dollar legal settlement between the NCAA and Division I college athletes means the schools will now share billions of dollars in revenue with those athletes. The agreement changes the face of college sports forever, and in…
University of North Texas cuts jobs to ensure pay for athletes
Across the country, colleges are bracing for the new era of revenue sharing. The House NCAA Settlement ensures that, as of July 1, schools directly pay athletes. Universities are now required to share at least $10 million in additional benefits over the next three years. However, big pay days for athletes mean big moves within the athletic departments of some...

They pulled off huge March Madness upsets. Now they're opting out of revenue sharing
The newly formed College Sports Commission, which oversees revenue sharing following the House settlement, posted a list of schools that have opted into revenue sharing.

Some colleges opt out of revenue sharing
Saint Peter's, Fairleigh Dickinson and Maryland-Baltimore County — three schools that have taken March Madness by storm at various points in the past decade — have declined to opt in to college sports' new revenue sharing model.
Every Division I School’s Revenue-Sharing Decision for 2025-26
The House settlement approved in June will transform college sports immediately. Starting in 2025-26, schools will be permitted to directly pay athletes up to $20.5 million annually in revenue-sharing. Not all schools, however, are jumping into the new landscape. On Tuesday, the College Sports Commission released a list of schools that opted in to sharing […]
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