Power Conferences Launch $20.5M Athlete Revenue Sharing Across Multiple Schools

Following the federal judge's approval of the House settlement, major college athletic programs, including Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ohio State, are preparing to distribute up to $20.5 million in revenue to athletes starting July 1, marking a new era in college sports. Most schools plan to allocate the majority of funds to football and men's basketball, with smaller portions for women's basketball and other sports, though specific distribution formulas remain somewhat flexible to maintain competitive advantages and adapt to individual team needs. Scholarship additions up to $2.5 million are counted against the overall $20.5 million cap, effectively leaving around $18 million for direct athlete payments. Georgia has implemented a clearinghouse to scrutinize third-party NIL deals exceeding $600 to ensure fair market value, while Oklahoma has emphasized its preparedness through recent departmental investments and plans to support six sports in revenue sharing. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Coast Conference is also adjusting revenue distribution, introducing new success and viewership incentives to reduce the financial gap with conferences like the SEC and Big Ten. Overall, while the new revenue-sharing framework promises significant changes, schools are adopting varied approaches in balancing equitable athlete compensation and maintaining program competitiveness.