Estimated 2025-26 Revenue Sharing – Football
As part of the House v. NCAA proposed settlement, Division I schools will be allowed to share athletic department revenues with their varsity athletes beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. The initial revenue sharing cap per school has been tentatively set at $ 20.5 million per year. We analyzed the most recent NCAA financial reporting from several NCAA I public universities and arrived at some estimates for football team revenue sharing scheduled to begin in the 2025-26 season:
| Estimated Revenue Sharing - Football | Conference | Football team Revenue share | Roster Size | Average per player | Total Revenue Sharing 2025* | Football Revenue % | AD Annual Revenue** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | SEC | 17,385,893 | 105 | 165,580 | 20,500,000 | 85% | 125,667,798 |
| Washington | Big Ten | 16,870,047 | 105 | 160,667 | 20,500,000 | 82% | 98,468,704 |
| Oregon | Big Ten | 16,845,431 | 105 | 160,433 | 20,500,000 | 82% | 109,439,421 |
| Penn State | Big Ten | 16,836,701 | 105 | 160,350 | 20,500,000 | 82% | 152,551,993 |
| Louisiana State | SEC | 16,689,153 | 105 | 158,944 | 20,500,000 | 81% | 138,574,324 |
| Ohio State | Big Ten | 16,459,663 | 105 | 156,759 | 20,500,000 | 80% | 215,167,642 |
| Wisconsin | Big Ten | 16,046,476 | 105 | 152,824 | 20,500,000 | 78% | 137,164,382 |
| Tennessee | SEC | 15,858,594 | 105 | 151,034 | 20,500,000 | 77% | 134,277,934 |
| Mississippi | SEC | 15,517,344 | 105 | 147,784 | 20,500,000 | 76% | 101,643,972 |
| Minnesota | Big Ten | 15,374,243 | 105 | 146,421 | 20,500,000 | 75% | 113,102,807 |
| Arkansas | SEC | 14,986,157 | 105 | 142,725 | 20,500,000 | 73% | 132,103,766 |
| Illinois | Big Ten | 13,899,259 | 105 | 132,374 | 20,500,000 | 68% | 99,358,957 |
| Louisville | ACC | 13,752,132 | 105 | 130,973 | 20,500,000 | 67% | 111,396,762 |
| Kansas State | Big-12 | 13,673,694 | 105 | 130,226 | 16,751,854 | 82% | 76,144,789 |
| Texas Tech | Big-12 | 13,576,092 | 105 | 129,296 | 18,258,244 | 74% | 82,992,017 |
| Missouri | SEC | 13,550,295 | 105 | 129,050 | 19,418,455 | 70% | 88,265,705 |
| Iowa State | Big-12 | 13,183,871 | 105 | 125,561 | 18,365,450 | 72% | 83,479,317 |
| Utah | Big-12 | 13,059,791 | 105 | 124,379 | 16,049,837 | 81% | 72,953,805 |
| Colorado | Big-12 | 11,253,147 | 105 | 107,173 | 14,090,852 | 80% | 64,049,328 |
| Washington State | Pac-12 | 10,739,073 | 105 | 102,277 | 12,709,241 | 85% | 57,769,277 |
| Colorado State | MW | 4,152,287 | 105 | 39,546 | 5,117,008 | 81% | 23,259,125 |
| Appalachian State | SBC | 3,333,741 | 105 | 31,750 | 3,626,477 | 92% | 16,483,988 |
| Georgia Southern | SBC | 1,856,757 | 105 | 17,683 | 2,095,770 | 89% | 9,526,227 |
| Arkansas State | SBC | 1,394,743 | 105 | 13,283 | 1,805,824 | 77% | 8,208,289 |
| Idaho | Big Sky *** | 1,029,786 | 105 | 9,807 | 1,270,624 | 81% | 5,775,565 |
| North Dakota | MVC *** | 496,724 | 105 | 4,731 | 2,472,797 | 20% | 11,239,985 |
| Tennessee Tech | OVC *** | 318,671 | 105 | 3,035 | 721,811 | 44% | 3,280,961 |
| Power 5 Average | 20 Schools | 14,777,853 | 105 | 140,741 | 19,107,197 | 77% | 109,728,635 |
* These estimates assume each school limits total revenue sharing to 22% of its annual athletic department revenues. However, a school can elect to share any percentage of its athletic revenues as long as the annual total payout does not exceed the $ 20.5 million tentative cap. For example, a school such as Colorado State (above) could elect to distribute revenue sharing to its athletes up to the $ 20.5 million annual cap, even though this would represent close to 90% of its total annual athletic revenues. However, in reality this would be financially unrealistic, so these estimates use the 22% benchmark as a guide to what schools would likely distribute in revenue sharing. Since participation in revenue sharing is optional, an NCAA I school can also elect not to share revenue with its athletes. However, doing so would likely put that school at a competitive disadvantage in athletic recruiting.
Revenue sharing is allocated per team based on the percentage of that team’s revenues to revenue from all sports as reported in the school’s most recent (2023) NCAA financial reporting. A significant variable here is athletic department revenue not allocated to a specific team. Based on the NCAA reports this can be anywhere from 6% to 37% of school athletic department revenue. Our estimates assume this non-specific revenue will be allocated in the same proportion as the team’s revenue percentage to all sports.
Due primarily to lucrative TV contracts, football accounts for close to 80% of team specific revenues at most power conference schools, so football players will be the major beneficiaries of revenue sharing. Power conference school football teams will likely be receiving a revenue sharing allocation of between $ 10 to $ 17 million per year to divide among their players.
These are averages per athlete. In actuality, a few players per team will get substantially higher than the average, while many will get much less. There are 105 Players eligible for revenue sharing on a NCAA I football roster and there will be vast differences in what they each may receive. For example, a coach may make a commitment of say $ 1.5 million per year to land a 5-star quarterback recruit. Then maybe $ 700,000 per year for some running backs and receivers, plus say $ 2 million annually for a starting offensive line to block for the running backs and protect that pricey 5-star quarterback recruit. It can quickly add up, and for players who see little if any playing time, their revenue share will also likely be little or none.
** Computed Athletic Department revenue includes event tickets and admission fees, game guarantees, TV, media, licensing, advertising, sponsorships and royalty rights, bowl game, NCAA and conference distributions and all related revenues. Revenue does not include direct or indirect school support, student fees or unrecompensed (i.e. charitable) contributions to the athletic department from alumni and boosters.
*** FCS division programs – all other schools compete in FBS.
Additions or Changes? Contact us at: [email protected]
Statistics compiled & edited by Patrick O’Rourke, CPA Washington, DC 