College athletics is undergoing the most transformative change in its history. Beginning in the fall of 2025, college athletic departments will be able to share revenue with some student-athletes, under the terms of a settlement in the House v. NCAA. While final approval of the settlement is still pending, the terms currently being considered include a provision that would allow a participating school or college to share approximately $22 million in revenue annually with student-athletes.

Nationwide, universities and colleges seeking to compete at the highest levels in this new era will face difficult decisions. It is important to remember that there is an opportunity right now for athletic departments that embrace change, find efficiencies in their operations, and adapt. Below you will find answers to questions about how UW Athletics will thrive in the new era.

 

Friends of Wisconsin Athletics:

There is a lot to celebrate about the Badgers on campus this fall. We have begun construction on a new indoor practice facility, our fall sports are in the midst of successful campaigns, and we are already looking forward to the start of all our winter sports.

What may be less visible is that we have entered a dramatic period of change in the history of college athletics. While many changes have already taken place in terms of name, image and likeness (NIL), conference rescheduling and more, there is still much to come.
NCAA Antitrust Settlement

You may have read that U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken granted preliminary approval to the settlement between the House and the NCAA on October 7, paving the way for final approval of the $2.8 billion settlement in April 2025. This settlement is the result of multiple lawsuits. and its impact will transform college athletics across the country and here in Wisconsin.

We’re still determining the full extent of all the changes we’ll face, but here’s what we can share today:

• Pending final approval of the settlement, college athletic departments may share revenue directly with student-athletes. The total maximum amount of revenue each school can share with student-athletes will initially be approximately $22 million per year and will likely increase over time.
• The settlement also provides NIL back pay for Division I student-athletes who competed from 2016-21. The NCAA will make these payments through a combination of reserves and future revenues, reducing future NCAA distributions to Wisconsin.
• The settlement imposes a limit on the size of team rosters (previously there was no NCAA limit on roster size) and universities can also now award as many scholarships as there are roster spots (previously there was a limit on scholarships schools could award per sport) .
• Student-athletes will still be able to benefit from their NIL, separate from the revenue sharing provided by the Athletics Department to certain athletes, but there will be new methods to ensure the legitimacy of such transactions.

We support revenue sharing with student-athletes because it provides a level of stability in what is currently a volatile environment. To do that successfully, however, it will be critical for us to make adjustments to the way we have been operating and generate additional revenue through new opportunities. We also ask for your continued generosity and support for our program.

Facing challenges by leading with values
As we navigate these changes, it provides us with an opportunity to continue positioning Wisconsin Athletics for success. Our high standards for student-athletes who represent our university with class and distinction will not change. Our high standards of pursuing excellence on and off the field will not change either. Opportunities for students and athletes will continue to be at the heart of everything we do. Our plan is to maintain our broad approach to supporting 23 sports, although the level of support we can provide to each program will need to change. Above all, our overarching goal will remain for student-athletes to thrive within our program and earn a degree from our world-class institution.

The environment in which we compete will be very different in the future. The coming changes will force us and athletic departments across the country to make difficult decisions given the financial impact of the settlement. We will adapt to the changing dynamics with our values ​​and goals of academic achievement and a competitive athletic experience as our guide.

Our people are our strength
What has always made Badger athletics so special is our people. From our student-athletes and coaches to our athletic department staff and colleagues on campus, as well as our donors, alumni and fans, the Badger family has supported Wisconsin Athletics for decades and helped us build an incredible foundation. We will need your support even more in the future.

This is a challenging, even difficult time in college athletics, but with every challenge comes opportunity. We will position Badger Athletics to thrive in the future state of college athletics. I ask for your leadership, generosity, and continued support as we seize the opportunity and run with it. Thank you for all you do for Wisconsin Athletics.

ON, WISCONSIN!


Chris McIntosh
Director of Athletics

 

Q: How will all of this impact the Badger fan experience?

We are working hard to ensure that Wisconsin Athletics will be competitive in the post-settlement world. As a result, we may look for new possibilities that we had not considered in the past. Examples of this may include increased advertising and sponsorship opportunities or an increased number of non-Badger athletic events at our facilities. We are confident that fans will continue to support the next generation of Badger athletes as we reach new heights.

Q: Will UW change its sports offering?
A. UW Athletics plans to maintain its current offering of 23 sports. We are taking a nuanced approach, by sport and by unit, to addressing the financial challenges we face.



Q: What will the changes be like for student-athletes?
Despite the changing landscape, UW Athletics will continue to focus on broad competitive opportunities, academic achievement and the lifelong benefits that come from the college athletics experience. The Athletics Department will continue to support the holistic development of student-athletes, although some aspects may look different than in the past.