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 hockey:
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 likely 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 Hockey teams:
While hockey players 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 caps have been established for each sport. For participating schools this would result in every player being eligible for a full scholarship. For both Men’s and Women’s teams, the athletic scholarship limit has been increased from 18 to 26, increasing the available scholarship money at most NCAA I schools:
2025 Scholarship Awards
Men's Hockey Teams *Conference 2025
Roster # of
awardsAverage ($)
Award 2025
Potential ($)
Award 2026 Roster
Limit **
Arizona State Big 12 29 23 44,202 67,576 26
Bowling Green MAC 28 28 27,048 36,359 26
Connecticut Big East 28 24 36,352 48,203 26
Massachusetts MAC 27 25 42,428 59,521 26
Miami of Ohio MAC 30 24 42,129 50,811 26
Michigan Big Ten 27 25 61,341 86,131 26
Michigan State Big Ten 26 25 49,098 64,830 26
Minnesota Big Ten 26 25 33,023 51,913 26
Nebraska - Omaha Summit 28 28 29,966 35,794 26
New Hampshire Coastal 27 24 42,397 53,236 26
North Dakota Summit 27 27 22,298 32,145 26
Ohio State Big Ten 28 27 39,715 60,509 26
Penn State Big Ten 27 24 51,903 63,133 26
Vermont America East 30 28 39,709 67,006 26
Western Michigan MAC 29 25 26,859 33,199 26
Wisconsin Big Ten 26 18 70,258 63,378 26
Average per team * 28 25 $ 41,170 $ 54,609 26
2025 Scholarship Awards
Women's Hockey Teams *Conference 2025
Roster # of
awardsAverage ($)
Award 2025
Potential ($)
Award 2026 Roster
Limit **
Connecticut Big East 25 24 34,339 48,203 26
Minnesota Big Ten 26 23 42,337 51,913 26
New Hampshire Coastal 25 20 47,398 53,236 26
Ohio State Big Ten 22 20 65,535 60,509 26
Penn State Big Ten 22 22 57,258 63,133 26
Vermont America East 26 25 44,628 67,006 26
Wisconsin Big Ten 24 24 54,925 63,378 26
Average per team * 24 23 $ 49,489 $ 58,197 26
These are potential increases as all 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 additional 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 Hockey teams:
NCAA I teams represent about 32% of all US College varsity hockey teams. There are also opportunities to compete in hockey at schools in other divisions and athletic associations:
Intercollegiate Hockey
Programs 2025-26Men's
TeamsWomen's
Teams
NCAA I 63 39
NCAA II 13 7
NCAA III 90 75
NAIA 13 8
Other 6 2
Totals 185 131
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 
