Multiple Universities Begin Athlete Revenue Sharing Under June House Settlement

Collegiate athletics is undergoing a major transformation with the shift to a revenue-sharing model allowing schools to directly pay athletes, replacing the previous NIL collective system. Mississippi State and UCLA have adopted revenue-sharing approaches, with Mississippi State using NFL salary cap distributions as a guide and UCLA distributing funds based on player availability and role, emphasizing transparency with their athletes. The University of Washington is including its softball program in its revenue-sharing distribution, a recognition of its sustained success despite generating less revenue than football or basketball. Meanwhile, the NCAA continues to navigate the evolving landscape by redefining key concepts such as 'amateurism' to maintain its control and resist athlete classification as employees. These developments mark a significant change in college sports, redefining athlete compensation while highlighting ongoing institutional adaptations to the new financial realities. Leadership transitions, like Maryland’s hiring of an athletic director from the professional sports world, also reflect evolving college sports governance amid these changes.