Football and Men’s basketball will account for close to 90% of revenue sharing payments at most Power Conference schools. The remaining 10% results in an average payout of around $ 4,306 per athlete in all other sports including bowling:
Revenue Sharing Estimates
Power 4 Schools: 2026-27 *Revenue
Share %
Allocation
to Team ($)
# of eligible
Athletes *Average per
Athlete ($)
Football 75% 15,600,000 105 148,570
Men's Basketball 15% 3,120,000 15 208,000
All Other Sports 10% 2,080,000 483
4,306
Power Conference Average 100% $ 20,800,000 603
These are averages, a few athletes will receive much more, while most will receive less. These estimates are for revenue sharing payments only (Institutional NIL), they do not include third-party NIL compensation. Most sports will likely receive no revenue sharing allocation, but will be eligible for greater scholarship awards.
* In almost all cases, the maximum $ 21.3 million revenue sharing distribution for 2026-27 will be reduced by a $ 500,000 offset for additional scholarships. Eligible athletes are based on the new roster limits effective July 1, 2025.
Athletic scholarship limits removed for NCAA I Bowling teams:
While bowlers will not receive substantial revenue sharing payments, most will be eligible for significantly higher athletic scholarship awards. As part of the House v NCAA settlement, scholarship limits have been removed, and roster limits have been established for each sport. For participating schools this would result in every player being eligible for a full scholarship. For women’s bowling, the athletic scholarship limit has been increased from 5 to 11, potentially doubling the available scholarship money at most NCAA I schools:
2025 Scholarship Awards
Women's Bowling Teams *Conference 2025
Roster # of
awardsAverage ($)
Award 2025
Potential ($)
Award 2026 Roster
Limit **
Coppin State MEAC 6 6 13,310 25,700 11
Grambling State SWAC 6 6 12,254 23,271 11
Maryland Eastern Shore MEAC 6 6 20,278 31,685 11
Nebraska Big Ten 12 11 20,443 44,411 11
Norfolk State MEAC 6 6 14,098 36,985 11
North Carolina A&T Coastal 10 10 15,032 17,178 11
Sam Houston State CUSA 10 9 13,542 31,587 11
Southern SWAC 7 7 11,633 19,482 11
Stephen F. Austin Southland 11 12 9,127 36,588 11
Wichita State American 10 10 16,936 45,178 11
Wright State Horizon 17 11 4,455 30,184 11
Youngstown State Horizon 9 9 13,484 26,045 11
Average per team * 9 9 13,716 30,691 11
These are potential increases as athletic scholarship awards are optional. Schools can fully fund a sport, or award less than the maximum allowed. While Football and Men’s basketball will receive close to 90% of revenue sharing payments at most FBS schools, conversely, about 90% of the new potential scholarship awards will go to athletes in Women’s and Men’s sports other than football and basketball.
* These averages are for NCAA I public Universities for which we have compiled data from available reporting.
** Roster limits are not mandatory. However, schools opting not to be subject to roster limits must adhere to the prior (lower) scholarship limits. Participating schools must submit certified rosters to the College Sports Commission.
Number of US College Bowling teams:
NCAA I teams represent about 10% of all US college varsity bowling teams. There are also many opportunities to compete at schools in other divisions and athletic associations:
Intercollegiate Bowling
Programs 2025-26Women's
TeamsMen's
Teams
NCAA I 37 -
NCAA II 43 15
NCAA III 34 8
NAIA 68 66
NJCAA 31 31
Other Associations 4 3
Totals 217 123
We didn’t just make this stuff up … see our page on methodology and sources of information. Questions on our data? Contact us at: NIL-NCAA.com Statistics compiled & edited by Patrick O’Rourke CPA, Washington, DC 
