NCAA president proposes creation of subdivision allowing schools to directly compensate student-athletes

NCAA president Charlie Baker has proposed a revolutionary plan that could clear the way for schools to directly compensate athletes through an educational trust as well as name, image and likeness deals, according to a letter obtained by CBS Sports. The proposal would include the creation of a new FBS subdivision.

Membership in the new FBS subdivision would be voluntary, but would require an investment of at least $30,000 per year into an educational trust fund for at least half of its total number athletes. That would guarantee half the schools’ athletes $120,000 over four years of competition. Money distributed by the university would be subject to Title IX requirements, meaning half the allocated money would be required to go to female athletes. In addition to compensation delivered through a trust, schools could then sign additional NIL deals to augment compensation. 

Many athletic departments push past 400 scholarship athletes across more than 20 sports at the highest level. Compensating half of those athletes with the base $30,000 per year would cost $6 million annually, signaling a massive investment in athletics. That amount is in addition to the cost of scholarships. 

As part of opting in, the schools would be required to take part in conversations with other FBS schools to create future potential guidelines for a revamped FBS. Discussions would surround roster size, recruitment, transfers or NIL. Essentially, FBS schools could create new rules separate from FCS or other NCAA classifications that are specific to higher-revenue universities. 

“It is time for us — the NCAA — to offer our own forward-looking framework,” Baker wrote. “This framework must sustain the best elements of the student-athlete experience for all…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-president-proposes-creation-of-subdivision-allowing-schools-to-directly-compensate-student-athletes/

Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2023-12-05 16:10:15

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