Emily Untermeyer’s Post

The 23 universities that make at least $125 million annually from their sports teams When it comes to college sports, there is a huge divide between the haves and the have-nots. Of the 1,062 colleges and universities that field varsity athletic teams under the banner of the NCAA, only 396 — fewer than half — made at least $10 million off their sports teams in 2022, the most recent year with available data. Among those schools, only 56 — about 5% — made at least $100 million. And there is a clear class division among the top 127 Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

‘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

🏆 Big Ten Basketball: Illinois Leads in Revenue and Performance! 🏀 The University of Illinois isn't just playing basketball; they're dominating in financial and competitive arenas. Here’s a quick breakdown: THREE POINTER: 🏀 ILLINOIS TOPS BIG TEN REVENUE Illinois led the Big Ten last year with a whopping $28.1 million in men’s basketball revenue, outpacing heavyweights like Indiana and Michigan State. 🏀 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ON THE RISE Iowa’s women's program, with $3.8 million in revenue, leads Big Ten women’s basketball, showcasing significant growth and potential for increased media-rights revenue. 🏀 RUTGERS FACES FINANCIAL CHALLENGES While Illinois thrives, Rutgers struggles with its athletic programs losing over $28 million, highlighting the financial disparities within the Big Ten. As the confetti settled at both the men’s and women’s tournaments, the financial statements are clear. The Illini's dual success in hoops is not just a testament to athletic prowess but also strategic financial planning and execution. The stark contrast with Rutgers' financial woes provides critical insights into the economic challenges and disparities faced by university athletic programs across the Big Ten. #BigTen #CollegeBasketball

All the debate surrounding Caitlin Clark’s impact on women’s basketball is really missing the point. Of course, Caitlin Clark had an outsized (and unprecedented) impact on viewership numbers for March Madness this year. The scale was historic – but the blueprint is tried and true: Sports live and die based on their superstars. They are the ultimate marketing arm of any and every league. The question isn’t whether a sport is over-reliant on its big names. The question is how good is that sport at generating big names? Caitiln Clark wasn’t a national name coming out of high school. She became a national name at Iowa. That is a win for college basketball as a whole. Will March Madness suffer without Clark next year? Maybe. Did the NBA suffer when Michael Jordan retired? Sure. But guess what — more superstars arrived. In Clark’s case, trust me – the college basketball bench is deep. Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo will all be must-see TV next year, and beyond. And even better, Clark isn’t retiring. She’s just taking her talents to the WNBA. No matter how you feel about Clark’s specific case, what should be universally celebrated is that we’ve proven, once again, that women’s sports can generate household names. And I both can’t wait to see what Clark does at the next level – and who steps up to claim her mantle in college.

“For a conference to exist, the NCAA requires ‘“at least seven active Division I members,”’all of which must sponsor men's and women's basketball, and for the conference to sponsor at least 12 Division I sports, among other requirements. In the case of departures, the bylaws allow a conference a two-year grace period in which it can exist without the minimum number of schools. After the two-year period, it is expected that OSU and WSU will have been able to recruit enough new members to meet NCAA requirements, with one possibility being a so-called reverse merger with teams from the Mountain West.” —— As someone who grew up idolizing and dreaming about Pac-5, then Pac-10, then Pac-12 athletics, this development still has me shook. It’s called the “Conference of Champions” for a reason. The Pac-12 has claimed 554 NCAA Championships (328 men’s, 204 women’s, 22 combined), over 200 more than the next league. At least — given given the current success of its teams in football, basketball, and soccer — the conference is going out with a bang!

<!-->--> Another new innovation will be introduced to college sports in the NIL era, this time in the form of a new in-season men’s college basketball tournament that will offer up to $2 million in NIL deals to the participating teams, according to a report by Front Office Sports on Friday.  According to On3, the teams that are in talks to participate in the tournament include Alabama, Duke, Florida Atlantic, Houston, Kansas, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, St. John’s, Syracuse and Virginia. The eight-team tournament dubbed “Players Era” is slated for Thanksgiving weekend and will be held at MGM Arena in Las Vegas.  What’s more, is that every team included in the tournament will be guaranteed at least $1 million in NIL dollars for participating, per On3. Programs will distribute the cash at their own will, but it must be given to the current team.  Meanwhile, the winning team will be eligible to earn another $1 million. Another tournament known as the College Basketball invitational offered NIL agreements a year ago, with the winning school receiving $25,000, the runner-up receiving 10,000 and each team semifinals loser receiving $2,500.  [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.] Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more Source link

March Madness was at a crossroads Why it matters: To expand or not to expand the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments past 68 teams is the big question facing the organization. The answers revolve around not only student-athlete experience and money, but also accessibility. The NCAA's Division I transformation committee is taking aim at eventually including 25% of eligible teams in sanctioned tournaments, but when -- or if -- that will be implemented remains to be seen. Currently, less than 20% of basketball programs end up being invited to participate. Not only that, but which teams would get into an expanded tournament field? Would it be squads from smaller schools, or middling programs in larger conferences? Right now, there are more questions than answers, and it seems to be about as complicated as picking a perfect bracket. 

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

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

🏀📚 As we watch the landscape of college basketball transform with the emergence of significant NIL funds, we at Athletes of Tomorrow remain steadfast in our mission. While top programs like Arkansas now wield substantial NIL budgets to attract top talent—thanks to figures like John Calipari and notable boosters—the core of our focus continues to be the holistic development of young athletes. Amidst this shift, we strive to equip our athletes not only to excel on the court but also to thrive academically and personally. Our goal is to ensure that every athlete, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, has the opportunity to secure NIL deals and scholarships, setting them up for success both during and beyond their collegiate careers. The reported NIL budgets and strategies, such as those at Arkansas, underscore the changing dynamics in college sports. It highlights the importance of adaptability and the need for a robust support system for athletes navigating these new waters. At AOT, we’re committed to being that support system, ensuring our athletes can make the most of the opportunities before them, with integrity and foresight. #AthletesOfTomorrow #NIL #CollegeBasketball #AthleteDevelopment #ScholarshipOpportunities #EmpoweringYouth https://lnkd.in/g77uk_f4