Motion to Disrupt Vol. 3
The Pay Era Begins
OPENING STATEMENTS
The pay clock starts Tuesday, as the new era in college athletics arrives. July 1 ushers in the implementation of House v. NCAA when schools can officially start paying players under its new revenue-sharing model.
With that, three key elements will become public, although some institutions have already affirmed their directions.
First, we’ll see which schools are opting into the House settlement, and how much they may compensate athletes. Some already have. Others haven’t clarified. Opting in means agreeing to pay up to $20.5 million per year to athletes across its sports. Schools that don’t opt in won’t share revenue with players and will be bound by previous NCAA rules, including collectives, no roster limits, etc.
Second, we’ll learn how schools plan to divide that money across their sports. The rule of thumb seems to have become 75% for football, 15% for men’s basketball and 10% split up among other sports. For instance, Texas Tech said it plans to allocate money toward football, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, baseball and volleyball. UNC has indicated that most funds will be provided to football and men’s basketball with some for women’s basketball and baseball. Ohio State has targeted football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. (In an upcoming edition of Motion to Disrupt, we’ll look at whether we should expect a major shift in power balance in some sports, not unlike how the SEC barnstormed through men’s basketball this year)
These also are the areas where things will start to get tricky. When the rubber meets the road, so to speak. The rights of players and coaches at institutions that choose not to opt in. And the Title IX implications of all of it. If a school pays male football or basketball players, it will likely need to offer similar opportunities to female athletes. Not equal dollars, but equal treatment. This could mean new benefits for women’s teams. Or legal trouble for schools that ignore the law.
Some schools are preparing for this. They’ve done equity reviews. They’re building out benefits for all athletes, not just the stars. Others haven’t shared any plans. Either way, we’re about to see how serious schools are about compliance and fairness. This should be accomplished through a streamlined, multi-departmental approach to ensure compliance with various institutional policies and procedures, the most important of which being Title IX. What is likely to happen will be a series of decisions by administrators who are under pressure to act which will result in a trial and error atmosphere in almost every circumstance. Some of the errors may have quick fixes, but many will result in an adversarial process, some ending up in litigation.
For players, this changes everything. Athletes will finally get paid directly by their schools. That’s a first. But the payout won’t be even. Star players in big sports will likely get the most. Athletes in other sports might get less—or nothing—unless schools take a broader approach.
This is the start of a new system. It’s not perfect. It’s still changing. But come Tuesday, real money will start flowing to college athletes. And how that money is divided will shape the future—for everyone.
Watch what your school does. Ask questions. Be ready. The next chapter starts now.
EXHIBIT A
College sports may look more professional, but the rules haven’t caught up—and legal trouble is filling the gap.
Wisconsin just sued Miami for allegedly tampering with defensive back Xavier Lucas, who had already signed a revenue-share deal to return in 2025. The portal was closed. Miami, the suit claims, knew that and reached out anyway. Lucas transferred, citing a family health issue.
It’s the first known lawsuit between programs over tampering—but likely not the last.
The NCAA hasn’t enforced these rules. Courts have made that tough. So schools are going to court themselves.
This is where we’re headed: legal fights, gray areas, and policy holes. Revenue sharing brings contracts. Contracts bring lawsuits. College sports wanted to evolve—but without structure, it’s going to keep breaking in public.
EXHIBIT B
Wednesday’s NBA Draft wasn’t just about who got picked, or whether that pick helped your favorite team. It showed how much college sports has changed.
Only 82 U.S. college players filed early-entry paperwork, a 49% drop from last year. Just 32 stayed in. Add international players, and the total pool dropped to 109, less than half of 2019’s number.
Why? Because staying in school can now be very lucrative. Players no longer need to rush to the league if the draft grade isn’t strong. They can stay, develop, and still earn.
This shift isn't just about big names like Cooper Flagg. It’s about the pipeline. But with more options comes more complexity. Today’s athletes need real guidance. From real legal professionals. Not just from family or friends. The rules aren’t what they were even last year. The stakes are higher. The path to the NBA is still there. It’s just no longer a straight line.
ON THE DOCKET
I’m thinking a little longer term this week. Just as college sports seem to find some footing with the implementation of House vs. NCAA, high school steps into the chaos. Nike signed 14-year-old track phenom Melanie Doggett—before her first day of high school. The race for talent is younger than ever. The question now: how young is too young for legal representation? How will high schools manage what’s coming? And how will the new rules in college handle it?
FOOTNOTES
"NCAA rules prohibiting sports betting at all levels were written and adopted at a time when sports gambling was largely illegal nationwide. As betting on sports has become more widely accepted across the country, Division I members have determined that further discussion of these sports betting rules is warranted, particularly as it relates to the potential distinctions between betting on professional versus collegiate sports.” – Josh Whitman, Illinois' athletic director and chair of the Division I Council on reversing the illegality of college players betting on pro sports.
