How the NCAA Settlement Could Shake Up Non-Revenue Sports: Athletes Voice Their Concerns

Sydney Moore and Sabrina Ootsburg stood among hundreds of college athletes at AthleteCon when they heard the news: a federal judge had approved a $2.8 billion NCAA settlement. For Moore and Ootsburg, this was a significant moment, filled with uncertainty.

“I’m about to get paid,” one football player exclaimed.

“True, but your female athlete friends might face cuts,” Ootsburg replied. This highlights a crucial concern. While some athletes might benefit financially, others could be left in the dust.

The settlement allows schools to share up to $20.5 million with their athletes over the next year. However, most of this funding is likely to go to high-revenue sports, with projections estimating that 75% will funnel into football. So what about sports like track, swimming, or soccer—basically everything outside of football and basketball?

Ootsburg, who competes in track and field, reflected, “Is this good or bad for athletes like me? What does it mean for our experience?” Many are unsure about the implications of these changes.

The majority of the funds may go to only a small portion of athletes, leaving little for others. “If only $800,000 is available for non-revenue sports, will these athletes have enough for essentials like care or facilities?” Ootsburg pointed out.

Moore agrees, stating that many female athletes aren’t primarily focused on the money—they fear how these changes might affect their overall experience. “We’d rather have resources that enrich our experience instead of a few thousand dollars that forces us to cover our own needs.”

Many athletes don’t seem to grasp the full impact of the settlement yet. At AthleteCon, Ootsburg cited a common sentiment among her peers: “They don’t understand what it means. Sure, they see the headlines, but they’re left with more questions than answers.”

Coaches also share this confusion. Mike White, head coach of the Texas softball team, called the current situation “the great unknown.” His athletic director likened the experience to sailing off the edge of a flat world, where no one knows what lies beyond.

Then there are athletes like Jake Rimmel, a former walk-on at Virginia Tech. He got cut from the cross-country team and has been grappling with uncertainty ever since. “I felt sidelined while my teammates continued,” he said. Now that the settlement has been approved, Rimmel worries about roster limits impacting his potential return to the sport.

“I just want clarity,” he expressed. Like many athletes, Rimmel has mixed feelings about how schools will respond.

Recent data indicates that understanding and adapting to these changes will be crucial for all athletes. A recent survey found that 70% of college athletes feel under-informed about the financial shifts in college sports. Experts emphasize the need for better communication from schools to ensure all athletes understand how these changes impact them.

In summary, while some college athletes may see financial gains from the settlement, many feel uncertainty and concern about their futures. As the landscape of college sports shifts, clarity and transparency will be essential for everyone involved.



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College sports, Virginia, General news, Mike White, Sports, U.S. news, Jake Rimmel, Sabrina Ootsburg, Chris Del Conte, U.S. News