FAQ

Question 1

What is the College Sports Commission?

Accepted Answer

The College Sports Commission is the organization overseeing the new system that allows schools to share revenue directly with student-athletes and ensures that NIL deals made with student-athletes are fair and comply with the rules. The College Sports Commission will facilitate more opportunities than ever before for student-athletes to benefit from their participation in intercollegiate athletics and will bring much-needed stability and structure to college sports.

Question 2

Who is responsible for enforcing these new rules?

Accepted Answer

The College Sports Commission is responsible for overseeing compliance with the new rules around roster limits, revenue sharing and student-athlete third-party NIL deals. Over time, the Commission's role may expand to include enforcement of additional related rules as well. The organization will investigate any potential violations of these rules, make determinations regarding potential rules violations and penalties, provide notice and opportunity to be heard, participate in the arbitration process and ultimately administer penalties for violations of these rules.

Question 3

What does this mean for college sports?

Accepted Answer

College sports are on a clear path toward a bright and stable future, supported by clear, well-defined rules and a strong enforcement entity to uphold these rules and ensure fairness across the collegiate landscape. Student-athletes have more opportunities than ever before to financially benefit during their participation in intercollegiate athletics.

Question 4

How will this new system benefit student-athletes?

Accepted Answer

Student-athletes have more opportunities than ever before to financially benefit during their participation in intercollegiate athletics. For the first time, schools across the country are now able to directly share revenue with student-athletes. Student-athletes can receive this direct compensation in addition to third-party NIL earnings. These opportunities build on the many benefits student-athletes already receive, including athletic scholarships, access to world-class training facilities, academic counseling, medical care, post-eligibility medical coverage, mental health resources, nutrition guidance and life skills development. The removal of NCAA scholarship limits allows schools to offer full or partial scholarships to every student-athlete on a team’s roster, providing more opportunities for student-athletes to receive scholarships, including those in non-revenue-generating sports. Additionally, as part of the House settlement, the House class counsel will distribute approximately $2.78 billion in past damages to current and former student-athletes over the next 10 years. For more information on damages, visit https://www.collegeathletecompensation.com/.

Question 5

How does this new system benefit non-revenue generating sports?

Accepted Answer

Student-athletes across sports have more opportunities than ever before to financially benefit from their participation in intercollegiate athletics. Schools across the country are now allowed to directly share revenue with student-athletes. Each school is responsible for determining how to allocate permitted funds amongst their sports teams. Additionally, the removal of NCAA scholarship limits allows schools to offer full or partial scholarships to every student-athlete on a team’s roster, providing more opportunities for student-athletes to receive scholarships, including those in non-revenue-generating sports.

Question 6

Is the College Sports Commission part of the NCAA? How is it different?

Accepted Answer

No. The College Sports Commission and the NCAA are independent entities, though they collaborate in certain areas. Each organization maintains authority over its own distinct responsibilities. The College Sports Commission is responsible for overseeing compliance with the new NCAA rules created in connection with the settlement around roster limits, revenue sharing and student-athlete NIL deals. The NCAA is responsible for enforcement of matters such as the rules of the game, academic and athletic eligibility and sports betting, among others.

Question 7

What is the House settlement?

Accepted Answer

The House settlement refers to the landmark settlement agreement resolving certain antitrust claims against the NCAA, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, that challenged NCAA rules restricting student-athlete compensation. It provides financial opportunities and benefits for Division I student-athletes, including direct revenue sharing. For more details, click here.

Question 8

How does the settlement impact Division I schools outside of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC?

Accepted Answer

Division I schools outside the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC have the option to “opt in” to the new model if they would like to provide additional scholarships or participate in revenue sharing with their student-athletes and abide by all relevant rules as part of the agreement. Many have already opted in, with a final deadline of June 15, 2025, at which point a full list of participating schools will be made public. Even if an institution does not “opt-in” to the new model, the requirements to report third-party NIL deals valued at or above $600 in aggregate applies to their student-athletes.

Question 9

What is NIL Go, and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

NIL Go is an online platform created by the College Sports Commission and Deloitte to determine whether third-party NIL deals are made with the purpose of using a student-athletes’ NIL for a valid business purpose and do not exceed a reasonable range of compensation. NIL Go offers a simple way for student-athletes to report third-party NIL deals to determine compliance with the new rules, allowing student-athletes to move forward with their deals confidently while protecting their eligibility. For more information on NIL Go, click here.

Question 10

What are the new requirements for reporting NIL deals?

Accepted Answer

Beginning June 7, 2025, NCAA Division I student-athletes must report third-party NIL deals with a total value of $600 or more (including contracts or payments with the potential to meet or exceed $600 via payment structures including but not limited to royalties, contingencies and bonuses) in aggregate. Moving forward, student-athletes must report new NIL deals within 5 business days of execution of the NIL contract or otherwise agreement to the contract or payment terms. NIL Go provides student-athletes the option to clear a third-party NIL deal prior to accepting the deal to confirm that acceptance will not affect their eligibility.

Question 11

If a school decides not to opt in to the settlement agreement, will their student-athletes' NIL deals have to go through this platform?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all Division I student-athletes, regardless of whether or not their school has opted in to revenue sharing, will have to report third-party NIL deals valued at $600 or more in the aggregate into the NIL Go platform.

Question 12

Will the system allow student-athletes to report deals under the $600 threshold?

Accepted Answer

Yes, student-athletes can report third-party NIL deals valued under $600, though mandatory reporting only applies to deals of $600 or more in aggregate.

Question 13

How will third-party NIL deals be reviewed?

Accepted Answer

Third-party NIL deals will be evaluated based on information provided by student-athletes to determine:Payor Association Status – The relationship between the payor and the student-athlete’s schoolValid Business Purpose (VBP) – Whether the payor is seeking the use of the student-athlete’s NIL for a valid business purpose, meaning to sell a good or service to the public for profitRange of Compensation (RoC) – Whether the compensation paid to the student-athlete is commensurate with compensation paid to similarly situated individuals

Question 14

It has been reported that NIL Go will determine “Fair Market Value” for each deal. Is that true?

Accepted Answer

No, NIL Go does not calculate Fair Market Value for each third-party NIL deal. NIL Go’s Range of Compensation determines whether the subject deal submitted by the student-athlete does not exceed a reasonable range of compensation based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, the deal’s performance obligations, the student-athlete’s athletic performance and social media reach, the local market and the market reach of his or her institution and program.

Question 15

What happens if an NIL deal is not cleared?

Accepted Answer

If a deal is not cleared, student-athletes have three options. They can:Revise the deal and resubmit: Student-athletes have the option to work with the payor to renegotiate the deal and resubmit it to NIL Go.Cancel the deal: Student-athletes have the option to cancel the deal and refund any money already received.Appeal to neutral arbitration: Student-athletes can appeal through a neutral arbitration process to obtain a neutral review of the decision. If the student-athlete continues with the deal as submitted, they may face enforcement consequences, which could include loss of eligibility.

Question 16

Can student-athletes appeal NIL deals that are not approved?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Student-athletes can go through a neutral arbitration process to further review the facts and circumstances of the deal. The decision of the neutral arbitration will be binding on the student-athlete and the College Sports Commission.

Question 17

Is there a cap on third-party NIL deals?

Accepted Answer

There is no cap on student-athlete compensation from third-party NIL deals. However, third-party NIL deals valued at $600 or more in the aggregate will be reviewed and analyzed to evaluate the payor’s association status, valid business purpose and range of compensation.

Question 18

What is the revenue sharing model?

Accepted Answer

Schools across the country are now able to directly share revenue with student-athletes. Schools can distribute each year up to 22% of the average revenue among schools in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC from media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships. Student-athletes can receive this direct compensation in addition to their athletic scholarships, third-party NIL earnings, and other educational benefits. For more information, click here.

Question 19

What is the revenue share cap? How is it calculated?

Accepted Answer

Each year, schools can share with student-athletes up to 22% of the average revenue among schools in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC from media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships – known as the revenue sharing cap. The cap is estimated at $20.5 million per school for the 2025-26 academic year, pending final amount confirmation. With a few potential exceptions, the cap will increase 4% the following two years and will be re-evaluated every three years over the duration of the 10-year settlement period.

Question 20

How will schools distribute revenue sharing funds to student-athletes?

Accepted Answer

Schools have the flexibility to allocate funds however they want, as long as they stay within the set limit.

Question 21

What payments count towards the cap?

Accepted Answer

Direct revenue sharing from schools and NIL deals made directly with schools count towards the cap. Existing scholarships, housing and costs will not count towards the cap. However, new scholarships created after the new system is implemented – up to $2.5 million – will count towards the cap. Third-party NIL deals will not count towards the cap.

Question 22

Can schools enter into NIL deals directly with student-athletes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Those deals are reported by the school and subject to the revenue sharing cap. Such deals are not subject to analyses regarding the range of compensation or valid business purpose.

Question 23

Do third-party NIL payments fall under the cap?

Accepted Answer

No, these payments won’t count toward the revenue sharing cap. However, they will be reviewed by NIL Go to ensure they are made with the purpose of using a student-athletes’ NIL for a valid business purpose and do not exceed a reasonable range of compensation.

Question 24

Are student-athletes who receive payments from their schools considered employees?

Accepted Answer

No. The revenue share does not create an employment relationship between the school and student-athletes.

Question 25

What is the total amount being paid to student-athletes in past damages?

Accepted Answer

The total amount being paid in past damages as part of the House settlement is approximately $2.78 billion over ten years.

Question 26

Who is eligible to receive damages as part of the House settlement? How do current or former athletes determine if they are eligible?

Accepted Answer

Individuals can learn more about damages for eligible current and former student-athletes at https://www.collegeathletecompensation.com/.

Question 27

When will damage payments be distributed?

Accepted Answer

Past damage payments will be distributed annually to eligible current and former student-athletes over a ten-year period. The House class counsel, through the settlement administrator, will distribute those damages to current and former athletes over the next 10 years. For more information on damages, visit https://www.collegeathletecompensation.com/.

Question 28

What is the process for a school opting in or out of revenue sharing?

Accepted Answer

For the 2025-26 school year, Division I schools outside of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, can choose to “opt in” to revenue sharing and must formally do so by June 15, 2025. Each year going forward, schools outside of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, must notify the NCAA if they will opt in to or opt out of revenue sharing for the upcoming academic year by March 1 of each year.

Question 29

Can schools that didn’t opt in to the new model this year choose to opt in next year?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An institution may make a decision to opt in to revenue sharing any year during the ten-year term of the settlement. Schools outside of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, must notify the NCAA if they will opt in to (or opt out of) revenue sharing for the upcoming academic year by March 1 of each year.

Question 30

Can schools that opted into the new model this year choose to opt out in the future?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Any institution not in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC may make the decision to opt out of the settlement any year during the ten-year term of the settlement. Schools outside of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, must notify the NCAA if they will opt in to (or opt out of) revenue sharing for the upcoming academic year by March 1 of each year.

Question 31

What are roster limits?

Accepted Answer

For schools participating in the settlement, NCAA scholarship limits have been removed and roster limits have been established for each sport. Under this new model, participating institutions will have the option to offer partial or full scholarships to every student-athlete on a team’s roster, as long as the total number of student-athletes stays within the sport’s specific roster limit. Removing scholarship limits will give schools the flexibility to better support their student-athletes and their education and support the long-term success of broad-based sports programs. This change will provide more opportunities for student-athletes to receive scholarships, including those in non-revenue-generating sports. For more details, click here.

Question 32

Will this change reduce the number of available scholarships?

Accepted Answer

No. The number of scholarships that may be provided will increase significantly across all sports, with each school deciding how many scholarships athletes will receive.

Question 33

What does “designated” student-athletes mean in relation to roster limits?

Accepted Answer

Designated student-athletes are those student-athletes who were either 1) on the school’s athletic rosters as of April 7, 2025 for the 2024-25 academic year or 2) an incoming Division 1 athlete that was recruited or promised by a school a roster spot before April 7, 2025 for the academic year 2025-26. In order to transition to the new roster limits, schools will “designate” student-athletes who were either removed or would have been removed from the school’s roster due to the implementation of roster limits. Those student-athletes will not count against the roster limits at any school for the remainder of their eligibility. A school’s ability to exceed the roster limit with respect to designated student-athletes remains the discretion of the school. Further guidance regarding the designation criteria will be provided to student-athletes and schools.

FAQ

The College Sports Commission

The House Settlement

Student-Athlete NIL Deals

Revenue Sharing

Back Damages

Opting In to Revenue Sharing

Roster Limits

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