Athletes of Tomorrow’s Post

Discover The 5 Highest Paid College Athletes still in The Game! They are living large and enjoying all the riches due to their talent endowment at an early stages of their lives. Check out the list here: https://lnkd.in/dZVhJG2S #CollegeAthletes #Spotcovery #livinglarge #usa #SPOTCOVERY #usatrending

The Final Four match-up between Iowa and UConn drew 17 MILLION viewers at its peak - making it the most-watched basketball game EVER on ESPN, and the most-viewed college event in history on ESPN+ (1). And yet, despite the women’s tournament eclipsing (pun intended, happy April 8th) viewership records across the board, women’s teams won’t earn ANY financial compensation. The NCAA gives a portion of its revenue - called “units” - to conferences based on the success of their schools in the men's tournament. Units are awarded for each game a school plays, except for the National Championship. This year, each of the 132 available units is worth about $2 million (2). So, while the men’s performances have guaranteed the Big 10 conference $12 million as of the 2023 tournament (2), the women’s team at Iowa - the record-breaking team with arguably one of the biggest names in sports today - will receive nothing. Though the NCAA is “discussing” unit distribution in women’s basketball for next season (3), they’re preventing teams from earning the (well-deserved) $170 million generated by the 2024 tournament. As USC coach Dawn Staley notes, that kind of money would "move your campus in a different direction [for] women.” (4). Women in sports deserve that investment - not just as a reward for current successes, but to further elevate their future. Sources: 1. https://lnkd.in/gJF6EwvW 2. https://lnkd.in/gescRAty 3. https://lnkd.in/gQssUP-h 4. https://lnkd.in/gwKpZbXJ #collegebasketball #marchmadness #ncaa #womeninsports

Have you heard about how NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals are revolutionizing college sports? A prime example is the University of Michigan football program, which has seen a remarkable boost thanks to NIL opportunities. NIL deals aren't just about individual gains; they're transforming entire teams. At U of M, these deals have brought new energy and resources, strengthening the program and enhancing the overall experience for athletes. This is a testament to the power of NIL in reshaping the landscape of college athletics, fostering not just individual success but also contributing to the growth and vitality of entire sports programs. For a detailed look at Michigan's experience and more insights into the NIL era, check out this fascinating read: How NIL Money Made Michigan Football Program Even Stronger. #NILImpact #CollegeFootball #MichiganFootball https://lnkd.in/eU7weZB4

[Trev] Alberts said. "I've said it 100 times, and I'll say it again: we don't have a revenue problem in college athletics, we have an expense problem." - Very on point quote in a insightful article discussing some of the tough choices, complications and unforeseen outcomes of the House vs NCAA settlement. The consequences of this settlement and the impact of the ever-changing operating landscape of college athletics is going to require athletic departments and administrations to take a long hard look at spending - in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency, public pressure for transparency, and the limited time and resources available (akin to grant recipients subject to donor requirements, as an example). What would you say are the biggest operational issues college athletics departments and administrators are facing in light of the pending settlement and other changes to the operational landscape of college athletics? Mit Winter Kevin R. Flanagan Jack Lieb Anthony Kocheran Stephanie Isham, CPA #ncaa #privateequity #collegeathletics #NIL #cherrybekaert https://lnkd.in/efUVFaRu

‘College sports generate billions of dollars in annual revenue, but the players putting on the show currently get nothing from that pot of money—even after a recent change allowing athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness. They rely instead on advertisers, rich donors, and the pooled funds of loyal fans, who are themselves growing fatigued with propping it all up. The Dartmouth players’ union threatens to change that structure, opening the door for universities to pay college athletes directly. Some athletes could be in line for a huge windfall; the top college-athletic departments generate more in sports revenue than some NHL teams. If Duke men’s basketball players, for example, got the 50 percent share of revenue common in professional sports, they’d be in line for $1.5 million each, per year.’ https://lnkd.in/eQdC-2Hq

ICYMI: I provided some thoughts recently on the future of #privateequity in #collegesports #MarchMadness2024

Nick Saban revolutionized the way college football programs operate, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Much like Michael Jordan in basketball, Saban's influence on college football is immeasurable. My first season at The University of Georgia coincided with Nick Saban's first National Championship at The University of Alabama, effectively thwarting the Urban Meyer Dynasty at the University of Florida before it could begin. It marked the beginning of the Alabama dynasty, a phenomenon we might never witness again in our lifetime. Saban's ability to align the university, athletic department, donors, and even state government to run the football program like a Fortune 500 company was unprecedented, now serving as the blueprint for College Football programs across the country. Whether it's Georgia, Michigan, or USC, each coach aims to replicate the system Saban created. Fortunately for Georgia Fans, it seems Kirby Samrt has done the best job of following suit. Regardless of where your loyalties lie, it's impossible not to respect the remarkable job Nick Saban has done at Alabama. However, let's not forget that college football is ultimately about positively influencing young people. In conversations with several of his former players, they all attest that the lessons learned from him are what they cherish the most, marking his most significant accomplishment. We delve into Nick Saban's impact on this week's episode of UGA Football Live and discuss the likely successor. While many changes are coming to college football in 2024, none may be greater than the absence of Nick Saban patrolling the sidelines in Bryant Denny Stadium. Farewell, Coach Saban. I'm glad we won't have to see you in Atlanta anymore. https://lnkd.in/dW5Ur_Dx

With the 2024 college football season right around the corner, the introduction of NIL earnings through bowl games could completely redefine the landscape of post-season college football. The ability to compensate student-athletes utilizing name, image, and likeness could be a game changer regarding retaining talent for bowl games, ultimately, incentivizing more athletes to participate. This model has the potential to not only form a new standard for bowl-season football, but eliminate the roster depletion certain rosters face and fully maximize talent and viewership potential. The Arizona Bowl, and sponsor Snoop Dogg, will likely see many bowl games implement the usage of NIL, providing tremendous benefits for student-athletes, universities, and college football fans all around the world. Read more at the link! #NIL #SportsBiz #LinkedInSports

College basketball insiders are “prepping for an expanded field in the very near future,” and a 72- or 76-team field "seems the most likely outcome,” according to Dana O’Neil of THE ATHLETIC. Exactly what expansion looks like needs to be "carved out in various committee meetings," but one college administrator said there is “no appetite for 96 teams, or really even 80.” Expansion may be the “only realistic way to keep the tournament alive,” as college basketball administrators "fear that, if the tourney is left untouched, it will inspire power conference schools to at least consider their own postseason.” But adding four or eight more teams is “not as simple as drawing in a few more lines.” Where those teams "are inserted has to be considered," and there also are "financial implications to consider." Adding more teams means “more schools get a cut of the CBS/Turner TV money.” However, if more money "isn't added to the pot, more teams divided by the same dollars equals less money per school." Some are “fearing an Armageddon scenario” and worry that will lead power-conference commissioners to “push for a restructuring of the automatic bid process.” But such a dramatic change would “require a full membership vote” (THE ATHLETIC, 3/4). 

Would private equity help or hurt the Big 12 Conference and its schools? Experts say it’s hard to predict. The college athletic conference, which includes the University of Houston, is reportedly considering a groundbreaking partnership with a global private equity firm. This would be the first business arrangement of its kind, marking a significant shift in the college sports landscape. Last year, the university was one of the four schools to join the Big 12 conference, which will again expand in August to 16 members. The athletic conference is likely gaining an additional, unconventional partner. This global private equity firm would infuse it with cases while having little influence on the group and its institutions. According to sports and private equity experts, the possibilities of ramifications are more uncertain than in a college sports landscape where the schools frequently switch conferences and student-athletes who are getting an ever-expanding piece of the financial pie. According to CBS Sports, the Big 12 is exploring a partnership with a Luxembourg-based CVC Capital Partners, a private equity firm whose portfolio includes European rugby, soccer leagues, an Indian cricket team, and the Women's Tennis Coaching Association. This would be their first partnership with any American college sports team; the firm is considering an investment of up to $1 billion in exchange for a 15-20% ownership stake in the conference. This would include public and private universities in Texas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah.  #UniversityofHouston #HoustonPublicMedia  #Big12conference #CBSSports  #CVCCapitalPartners #universities  #privateequityfirms #collegesports  #WomensTennisAssociation  #Europeanrugby #soccer #cricket #ownership #stake