NCAA Changing Forever
NCAA changing forever? Yes. Before our very eyes! A groundbreaking development is shaking up the landscape of college football and athletics, with the Big Ten and SEC at the epicenter of a potential revenue-sharing plan. This change could redefine college sports as we know them.
Referred to as the “Modern Model,” this innovative approach aims to achieve two key objectives. First, it seeks to distribute revenue among student-athletes, tapping into the vast sums generated by media deals alone, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. Second, it may serve to resolve the ongoing “House vs NCAA” lawsuit, slated for trial in January.
The House vs NCAA lawsuit, a class-action antitrust case, alleges that the NCAA and Power 5 conferences have colluded to suppress athlete compensation, a grave accusation with potential multimillion-dollar implications for each school involved.
NCAA CHANGING FOREVER
Athletic directors are scrambling to adjust budgets, earmarking substantial sums—upwards of $20 million per school—to cover potential settlements. This financial burden threatens to upend operations for many institutions.
In response, Power 4 schools, along with the NCAA, are engaging in intense deliberations to devise a revenue-sharing plan for athletes, an initiative long overdue, according to many observers.
While details remain murky regarding funding sources and distribution methods, it’s apparent that TV revenue will play a significant role. For years, athletes have felt undervalued, while conferences and athletic departments have reaped immense financial rewards.
Traditionally, scholarships and exposure were deemed sufficient rewards for student-athletes, but now, demands for direct financial compensation are growing louder. This proposed arrangement is distinct from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) arrangements, representing a formal payment for athletic services.
Earlier discussions between the Big Ten and SEC regarding the future of college athletics hinted at such developments, underscoring the influence these conferences wield in shaping policy and allocating funds.
Ultimately, here is the real reason NCAA changing forever is the headline: The outcome of these deliberations could impact the outcome of the House vs NCAA lawsuit, potentially resulting in substantial damages and significant shifts in NCAA policies. With mounting legal challenges and shifting public sentiment, the NCAA faces an uncertain future, with some predicting its demise.
Amidst these developments, the Big Ten and SEC are positioning themselves strategically to weather the storm, recognizing the need for proactive measures in an evolving collegiate sports landscape.
While not as flashy as a top-ranked matchup or a quarterback controversy, this evolving narrative carries far-reaching implications for every athletic department and conference nationwide. We always discuss how the NCAA changing forever is important to all sports fans. We invite you to join us each weekday afternoon on Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida.