Department of Education Affirms: Ensure Revenue Sharing Practices Align with Title IX Regulations

Revenue sharing for college athletics is set to kick off on July 1, pending final approval in April. However, new guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights might complicate things for many programs across the nation.

A recent memo addressed how revenue sharing could intersect with Title IX, which ensures equal funding for men’s and women’s sports. According to the memo, any future revenue-sharing payments for athletes’ Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights will count as financial aid. This means schools need to distribute these funds fairly between male and female athletes to avoid Title IX violations.

Many programs had planned to divide their revenue sharing, giving 75% to football, 15% to men’s basketball, and the remaining 10% split between women’s basketball and other athletes. Such a split would clearly violate Title IX principles.

Additionally, the upcoming change in presidential leadership could further affect the Department of Education and its approach to Title IX regulations in college sports.

The landscape of college athletics is changing. Revenue sharing marks the end of the NCAA’s amateurism model, allowing schools to directly compensate players. This shift could lead to changes in scholarships, roster sizes, and how NIL deals are executed.

Last year, the NCAA and major conferences made a joint statement, highlighting the importance of reforms in college sports. They emphasized creating more opportunities for student-athletes while working toward a clearer future for college athletics as a whole.

Pitt University, along with other programs, is adapting to the impacts of NIL. The university supports Alliance 412, a key NIL collective, and coach Pat Narduzzi has shown his backing for revenue sharing, stating that it’s a positive step for universities.

As Narduzzi mentioned, “There’s still much to figure out, but it’s great that universities are taking the lead. We will sort through these changes while focusing on field performance.”

As we move closer to July, it’s clear that navigating the future of college athletics and revenue sharing will take time and careful planning.

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