The NCAA‘s recent rule changes allowing players to profit from their name, image, and likeness have changed the world of college athletics significantly in a very short time, but a plan currently being discussed by the Big Ten athletes and conference commissioner Kevin Warren could mark an even more seismic shift.
According to ESPN college football reporter Dan Murphy, Warren and leaders of an independent players association met this week to discuss some of the group’s demands and have agreed to start a conversation about a revenue-sharing model.
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren met with leaders of an independent players association this week. The group has asked to begin a conversation with the conference about demands including revenue sharing, and says Warren agreed to start that conversation.
— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) July 22, 2022
“Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren met with leaders of an independent players association this week,” Murphy said in a Tweet. “The group has asked to begin a conversation with the conference about demands including revenue sharing, and says Warren agreed to start that conversation.”
Revenue sharing, as the name suggests, would give college athletes a share of the money earned by the teams and conference as a result of broadcast deals, ticket sales, and more. While the NIL changes allowed athletes to profit from their own name, image, and likeness by signing endorsement deals, revenue sharing would allow players to directly profit from the on-field product for the first time.
Even if it is just the start of a conversation, it’s massive news and the college football world took to social media to express their shock.
I think we should probably read the news in the context of this tweet. https://t.co/BlV3xUbOkT
— Nathan Kalman-Lamb (@nkalamb) July 22, 2022
Revenue sharing would be HUGE to get for college athletes, and another step towards the school paying athletes themselves
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) July 22, 2022
i don’t know how the NCAA continues to take this many body shots and keeps getting back up off the floor
you kinda have to respect it
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) July 22, 2022
People need to keep their eye on the ball with what the Big Ten does next. (I'm sure Dan will.) Meeting with the players is not the same thing as engaging with them as a union, and any college conference has ample reason to try to pass one off as the other https://t.co/Ynv17058xX
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) July 22, 2022
This is BIG news.
The beginning of talks that could lead to revenue sharing with college football players.
If one conference does this others will have to follow. https://t.co/hcAaTO4r8w
— Mit Winter (@WinterSportsLaw) July 22, 2022
Monster Friday news in college sports. Even the idea that a conference commissioner would agree to start these conversations a few years ago was unimaginable.
If the B1G makes this move, the other conferences will follow. https://t.co/BfTxG0ZPka
— Cody Wilcoxson (@CWilcoxson) July 22, 2022
This may be just the beginning of the revenue-sharing conversation, but if it ever comes to fruition it will change college athletics forever.
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