Key Developments to Watch

1. NCAA Settlement & Revenue Sharing

In June 2025, a historic settlement abolished previous restrictions on athlete compensation and opened the door for formal revenue sharing and direct payments. Schools can now distribute up to $20.5 million annually in direct payments to athletes—funding that's expected to grow over time. Starting July 1, 2025, institutions began implementing these new compensation models.

2. Rethinking Scholarships & Rosters

Traditional scholarship caps are gone. Instead, schools operate under equivalency models, granting more partial scholarships across more athletes. However, teams now face roster limits—for instance, some Division I track and field programs are capped lower than before—making competition more intens.

3. NIL Recruiting Moves to the Forefront

The NCAA has officially scrapped its NIL recruiting ban, allowing Name, Image, and Likeness deals to play a formal role in recruitment and transfers . Platforms and schools can now openly discuss NIL incentives during recruitment—creating an entirely new dimension to how students evaluate opportunities.

4. Transfer Portals Gain Momentum

As roster flexibility expands, coaches are increasingly turning to the transfer portal to fill key roles. High school prospects now must demonstrate readiness to contribute immediately; the emphasis on impactful performance has never been higher.

5. Division II Considering 5-Year Eligibility

To address modern student-athlete needs, Division II has proposed allowing up to five seasons of competition across a student’s academic term, aiming to provide more personalized and equitable recruitment opportunities