Revenue sharing in college sports...

[ptrich]

As I post this, there are 2,274 players in the portal and climbing. Some of them are looking for more money and it will be interesting to see how much money will be allocated for IU's baseball program when revenue sharing begins on July 1, 2025, and they probably won't release those numbers. Here's where things stand in that area as a judge has things in limbo right now:

"The terms of the landmark House v. NCAA settlement are supposed to take effect on July 1. The settlement would allow revenue sharing with players for the first time in NCAA history, create new scrutiny for NIL booster and collective deals, and impose roster limits—potentially changing the entire landscape of Division I college sports."

"The problem: Less than a month before the terms would begin, Northern California District Court judge Claudia Wilken still hasn’t issued a final ruling on whether the settlement will be approved. As a result, an entire industry—including players—have no idea how next year will look."

As far as NIL deals right now, I saw a post, and I don't know if it's correct or not, that Oregon had $2 million in NIL money earmarked for their baseball team. If correct, I assume much of that came from Phil Knight, but who knows. There needs to be some transparency in this area, but thanks to the NCAA being totally unprepared when the courts opened the floodgates in that area, things are a real mess right now with no parameters in effect.

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

As I post this, there are 2,274 players in the portal and climbing. Some of them are looking for more money and it will be interesting to see how much money will be allocated for IU's baseball program when revenue sharing begins on July 1, 2025, and they probably won't release those numbers. Here's where things stand in that area as a judge has things in limbo right now:

"The terms of the landmark House v. NCAA settlement are supposed to take effect on July 1. The settlement would allow revenue sharing with players for the first time in NCAA history, create new scrutiny for NIL booster and collective deals, and impose roster limits—potentially changing the entire landscape of Division I college sports."

"The problem: Less than a month before the terms would begin, Northern California District Court judge Claudia Wilken still hasn’t issued a final ruling on whether the settlement will be approved. As a result, an entire industry—including players—have no idea how next year will look."

As far as NIL deals right now, I saw a post, and I don't know if it's correct or not, that Oregon had $2 million in NIL money earmarked for their baseball team. If correct, I assume much of that came from Phil Knight, but who knows. There needs to be some transparency in this area, but thanks to the NCAA being totally unprepared when the courts opened the floodgates in that area, things are a real mess right now with no parameters in effect.

Heard today Murray State had $1.1M. I don't trust any NIL estimates though.

 

[ptrich]

Heard today Murray State had $1.1M. I don't trust any NIL estimates though.

Yes. It's all hearsay and we all know how things morph as information gets passed along.

 

[ptrich]

The settlement has been approved by the judge. Here is how d1baseball.com's Kendall Rogers sees the settlement:

Let’s get into the nitty gritty of what this means for college baseball:

Here’s everything college baseball coaches, players and fans need to know:

• The House Settlement only applies to athletics departments that have opted into the settlement. That list of schools includes more than 250 institutions, and every institution from the power conferences.

• College baseball programs will have an official roster size of 34 players, and that 34-man roster must be declared by December 1, 2025 for the 2026 season. That means the official roster size of a college baseball team will decrease from 40 to 34 players beginning in ’26. That roster size does not include players considered to be ‘grandfathered’ into the roster.

• I checked with several sources in the power conferences, and most power leagues are expected to stick with a 30-man roster for conference games. This standard is not likely to deviate much in the mid-major or low-major conferences.

• College baseball players who were designated as players who would’ve been cut because of the new rules are ‘grandfathered’ into the existing roster, and that would carry over to another program should they hit the transfer portal. It would also apply for the duration of their college athletic tenure. From already talking to college baseball coaches and university administrators tonight, more guidance is needed on this particular issue. Players who receive this ‘designation’ will not count toward the 34-man roster unless the below occurs …

• Sources close to at least two power conferences told D1Baseball late Friday night that they expect their leagues to implement rules that if you give one of those ‘designated’ players revenue share or a portion of a scholarship, they would count toward your 34-man roster. This would eliminate the ability for specific programs to stockpile players. This is still an ongoing discussion, however, with resolution … yet. It would be possible for these designated players to pay their way through school.

• Walk-ons that you have within your program will count against your 34-man roster. Anyone who practices/competes for your team, or is on scholarship, counts against your 34-man roster.

• College baseball programs have the ability to offer up to 34 full scholarships to all 34 players on their roster. Most power conferences are allowing their member institutions to do whatever they want in terms of scholarships — not setting conference-wide restrictions. Expect the scholarship totals to vary. For instance, a vast majority of the SEC, ACC and Big 12 will be at 25-34 full scholarships from the start, while at least 2-3 programs in the Big Ten have told D1Baseball that they are either staying at 11.7 for the time being, or getting a gradual increase over the next couple of years. That’s a fascinating contrast to watch moving forward.

• Any NIL deal not signed by midnight on Friday, June 6, will be subject to final approval by the NIL Clearinghouse. Furthermore, any pre-existing NIL deal that is not fully paid by July 1, 2025, will be subject to approval by the NIL Clearinghouse. So, let’s say a player has only been paid 75% of their NIL deal by July 1. The remaining funds owed to that student athlete would then go through the NIL Clearinghouse. At least one source close to a prominent collective in the SEC told me on Friday night that most of his student-athlete’s deals were signed, sealed and delivered early in the evening on Friday. There will definitely be a mad dash to that midnight deadline.

• Any NIL deal worth $600 or more must be approved by the NIL Clearinghouse.

• There will be a significant distinction between corporate/company-specific NIL dollars and the system that is currently in place, which is essentially boosters funneling money through collectives to student athletes for the most part. The more legitimate — i.e., the more these deals involve actual companies — the more likely they are to be approved by the NIL Clearinghouse.

• Ultimately, Friday’s approval of the House Settlement is outstanding news … for the short term. Several sources close to the situation fully expect this to be challenged in the courts, and thus, all or some components of the Settlement could potentially be thrown out. There will be plenty of twists and turns over the next few weeks and months

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

The settlement has been approved by the judge. Here is how d1baseball.com's Kendall Rogers sees the settlement:

Let’s get into the nitty gritty of what this means for college baseball:

Here’s everything college baseball coaches, players and fans need to know:

• The House Settlement only applies to athletics departments that have opted into the settlement. That list of schools includes more than 250 institutions, and every institution from the power conferences.

• College baseball programs will have an official roster size of 34 players, and that 34-man roster must be declared by December 1, 2025 for the 2026 season. That means the official roster size of a college baseball team will decrease from 40 to 34 players beginning in ’26. That roster size does not include players considered to be ‘grandfathered’ into the roster.

• I checked with several sources in the power conferences, and most power leagues are expected to stick with a 30-man roster for conference games. This standard is not likely to deviate much in the mid-major or low-major conferences.

• College baseball players who were designated as players who would’ve been cut because of the new rules are ‘grandfathered’ into the existing roster, and that would carry over to another program should they hit the transfer portal. It would also apply for the duration of their college athletic tenure. From already talking to college baseball coaches and university administrators tonight, more guidance is needed on this particular issue. Players who receive this ‘designation’ will not count toward the 34-man roster unless the below occurs …

• Sources close to at least two power conferences told D1Baseball late Friday night that they expect their leagues to implement rules that if you give one of those ‘designated’ players revenue share or a portion of a scholarship, they would count toward your 34-man roster. This would eliminate the ability for specific programs to stockpile players. This is still an ongoing discussion, however, with resolution … yet. It would be possible for these designated players to pay their way through school.

• Walk-ons that you have within your program will count against your 34-man roster. Anyone who practices/competes for your team, or is on scholarship, counts against your 34-man roster.

• College baseball programs have the ability to offer up to 34 full scholarships to all 34 players on their roster. Most power conferences are allowing their member institutions to do whatever they want in terms of scholarships — not setting conference-wide restrictions. Expect the scholarship totals to vary. For instance, a vast majority of the SEC, ACC and Big 12 will be at 25-34 full scholarships from the start, while at least 2-3 programs in the Big Ten have told D1Baseball that they are either staying at 11.7 for the time being, or getting a gradual increase over the next couple of years. That’s a fascinating contrast to watch moving forward.

• Any NIL deal not signed by midnight on Friday, June 6, will be subject to final approval by the NIL Clearinghouse. Furthermore, any pre-existing NIL deal that is not fully paid by July 1, 2025, will be subject to approval by the NIL Clearinghouse. So, let’s say a player has only been paid 75% of their NIL deal by July 1. The remaining funds owed to that student athlete would then go through the NIL Clearinghouse. At least one source close to a prominent collective in the SEC told me on Friday night that most of his student-athlete’s deals were signed, sealed and delivered early in the evening on Friday. There will definitely be a mad dash to that midnight deadline.

• Any NIL deal worth $600 or more must be approved by the NIL Clearinghouse.

• There will be a significant distinction between corporate/company-specific NIL dollars and the system that is currently in place, which is essentially boosters funneling money through collectives to student athletes for the most part. The more legitimate — i.e., the more these deals involve actual companies — the more likely they are to be approved by the NIL Clearinghouse.

• Ultimately, Friday’s approval of the House Settlement is outstanding news … for the short term. Several sources close to the situation fully expect this to be challenged in the courts, and thus, all or some components of the Settlement could potentially be thrown out. There will be plenty of twists and turns over the next few weeks and months

Big Ten baseball is likely dead

 

[Charlesroast]

Actually the addition of the west coast team, additional scholarships, pay for play with some attempt at side boards, and roster limits will be significant in the return of B1G baseball to national relevance. Obviously moving the start of the season back 2-4 weeks will be huge when it happens and I comfortable it will.

 

[kraft cheese+macaroni]

Actually the addition of the west coast team, additional scholarships, pay for play with some attempt at side boards, and roster limits will be significant in the return of B1G baseball to national relevance. Obviously moving the start of the season back 2-4 weeks will be huge when it happens and I comfortable it will.

I don't have any hope that IU or most of the B1G will fully fund baseball like most of the SEC probably will, as well as some of the ACC and Big XII teams.

 

[ptrich]

Actually the addition of the west coast team, additional scholarships, pay for play with some attempt at side boards, and roster limits will be significant in the return of B1G baseball to national relevance. Obviously moving the start of the season back 2-4 weeks will be huge when it happens and I comfortable it will.

I don't have any hope that IU or most of the B1G will fully fund baseball like most of the SEC probably will, as well as some of the ACC and Big XII teams.

It never was a level-playing field between the cold weather schools/conferences and the warm weather schools/conferences, so I don't see this changing things much in that area. We brought in the west coast schools where the climate is much milder, and they immediately dominated the conference in their first season in the conference with UCLA making it to the College World Series. The SEC will continue to pump big bucks into their baseball programs, with the ACC being somewhat close to them in funding their programs, and the B1G will never come close to that funding commitment despite the settlement taking effect July 1st. The SEC has two coaches with salaries at or just a hair under $3 million a year and you will never see that in the B1G.

You do have some exceptions to that such as Louisville which has weather pretty similar to Bloomington, but being in the ACC helps them attract top players, and they usually get quality players out of the state of Indiana as a result of that.