• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

The Biggest Changes to College Sports Are Coming in 2025

From revenue-sharing to athlete employee status, here’s how the college sports business model could continue to evolve in the coming year.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a first-down catch against Oregon during the 2025 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Adam Cairns-Imagn Images
Exclusive

Bud Selig: ‘Remarkable’ Brewers Run Can’t Mask MLB’s Money Divide

The former commissioner lauds his hometown team while raising economic concerns.
Read Now
October 8, 2025 |

In 2024, college football experienced multiple seismic shifts. A season of change began with another round of realignment led by the Pac-12, and culminated in the first 12-team College Football Playoff that, so far, has showcased an unprecedented amount of parity.

But in 2025, the entire business model of college sports could change in football and beyond. Revenue-sharing, employee status, and collective bargaining are all on the table. 

While the courts, Congress, and industry stakeholders battle over the specifics, college sports, and big-time football, in particular, are moving further into an era of professionalization. 

Revenue-Sharing on the Horizon

The most probable change, revenue-sharing, will result from the House v. NCAA settlement. Think of it as a give-and-take: The NCAA is conceding that schools should finally be allowed to pay players; but in exchange, it wants more power to control the NIL (name, image, and likeness) market.

The settlement proposal, which calls for $2.8 billion in damages and infrastructure for schools to pay players—was filed in July and granted preliminary approval in October. Northern District of California judge Claudia Wilken has the opportunity to give it a final rubber stamp during a hearing April 7—which would set the Division I revenue-sharing era in motion July 1, 2025.

As it stands now, each D-I school would have the opportunity to share up to a certain amount of money with every player in its athletic department per year. The cap will begin at around $20.5 million per school, and will rise to around $30 million over 10 years. Schools will have to pay all their players, from football players to swimmers, according to an FAQ published by the NCAA.

Schools would have just a three-month window to figure out implementation, which has produced a wave of new athletic department infrastructure like “salary-cap managers” and creative fundraising efforts. But the distribution rules are still up in the air.

Future of Collectives Is Uncertain

Currently, players can negotiate deals with schools, coaches, collectives, and donors before they enroll at a school—which the NCAA considers “pay-for-play.” But the House settlement would require a third-party operator to approve all $600-plus NIL deals from school-affiliated entities. If the operator believes the deals are above the “fair market value” for a player’s NIL rights, then the deal would be blocked.

Multiple experts have told Front Office Sports that they don’t know how fair market value would be determined, and whether the concept would hold up if challenged in court.

As a result of the restriction, some schools have announced they’ll begin to sunset their collectives altogether, or instead bring them in-house. But others think collectives could still find workarounds.

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA;  Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) hands off to Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) on a run against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Caesars Superdome.
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Employee Status Is Less Likely

At the beginning of 2024, the athlete-employee movement was gaining momentum.

In January, two National Labor Relations Board cases involving Dartmouth men’s basketball players and USC football and basketball, respectively, appeared to be progressing toward athlete-friendly rulings. (Dartmouth players received the right to unionize and voted to do so in March.) Meanwhile, the NCAA’s congressional lobbying campaign to halt the movement wasn’t gaining traction.

But in November, Donald Trump won the presidential election—and a red wave swept both houses of Congress. Trump and congressional Republicans will have plenty of mechanisms to halt the athlete-employee movement.

After Inauguration Day, Trump is expected to remove the athlete-friendly NLRB general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo. He’ll also have the opportunity to almost immediately flip the pro-labor makeup of the NLRB national board after the Senate failed to reconfirm chairman Lauren McFerran for another term.

On New Year’s Eve, Dartmouth men’s basketball players withdrew their petition to unionize. Dartmouth had appealed the pro-union ruling, and the national board had yet to say whether it would take up the case. The union representing Dartmouth players said in a statement that this way, they could “preserve” their win from the first ruling. An administrative law judge is still deliberating the USC decision.

The new makeup of Congress will likely also be pro-NCAA. Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) will head the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over college sports compensation questions, and he’s already said that passing a bill to govern college sports will be a priority. He’s signaled interest in banning athletes from being deemed employees, though he’s also conceded his legislation will need to be bipartisan.

All hope isn’t lost for the employee-status movement. The Johnson v. NCAA case, which argues all D-I athletes are employees, is still pending in federal court. And if Congress passes a law over athlete-employee status that halts the case, attorney Paul McDonald plans to challenge it on equal protection grounds.

Collective Bargaining Has Momentum

A growing chorus of stakeholders have begun to call for athletes to gain more negotiating power. 

Coaches have proposed collective bargaining, and a group of plaintiffs in the House case have written a letter asking the judge to mandate the creation of a players’ association. Federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have noted players need a bigger voice. (It’s hard to say whether an association that isn’t a formally recognized union would have that much power, though.)

There are plenty of moving parts, but one thing is certain: In 2025, college athletes will look more like professionals than ever before.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium

UNC’s Disastrous Season Continues With Report of NCAA Rules Violation

A UNC cornerbacks coach reportedly gave sideline passes to a player’s family.
Inside NCAA Headquarters located in Indianapolis on Friday, March 10, 2023. Ncaa President Charlie Baker

NCAA Approves Plan to Let D-I College Athletes Bet on Pro Sports

The proposal still needs to be approved by D-II and D-III committees.
Hymie Elhai

Jets Say Execs Tried to Sink Team President in Bumbling Conspiracy

The team says thousands of deleted text messages show the plot.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Oct 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back DeShon Singleton (8) celebrates after making an interception during the game against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium.
exclusive

Big Ten Considering Investment From California Pension Fund

Under the proposal, Big Ten would spin assets into a new entity.
October 7, 2025

NIL Hits Week 1: Auburn’s Atlanta Game Marks Next Step in Player..

The teams will play in the 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game.
Sep 20, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule walks onto the field before the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium.
October 7, 2025

Big Ten Teams Grapple With Long Flights, Time-Zone Hurdles

Coaches across the country are noticing some impact.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) passes the ball during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl.
October 6, 2025

The Improbability of UCLA’s Incredible Upset Win Against Penn State

Before UCLA beat Penn State, donors were deeply unhappy.
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium.
October 6, 2025

Penn State Has a $50 Million James Franklin Problem

Franklin’s team lost to unranked UCLA on Saturday despite being heavy favorites.
October 5, 2025

CFB’s New Parity Era: Penn State, Texas Top-25 Exits Signal Shift

Penn State and Texas fall entirely out of the top-25 rankings.
Cody Campbell
October 4, 2025

Fox, ABC Reject Ad Accusing Power Conference Commissioners of Greed

Cody Campbell said the ads were pulled after he paid for them.