University football began a new era during the 2024-25 season with the expanded playoffs of 12 teams.
Changes to sport – and university athletics as a whole – should be much more important this year to come.
A federal judge is expected to give final approval on April 7 to the Room Regulation against the NCAA, which includes back remuneration, income sharing and alignment changes from the 2025-26 academic year.
“This is a challenge throughout the country,” Penn State James Franklin’s Penn State football coach on Tuesday. “Many coaches talk about it. Many announcements (sports directors) talk about it. Many commissioners (conference) talk about it.
“You have to make decisions and you have to move forward before having all the information and directives. Decisions are still made today. It’s very, very difficult.”
The NCAA and the complainants, two former athletes in division I, concluded a regulation last year which forced the NCAA to pay nearly $ 2.8 billion to the former athletes of Division I for the lost opportunities of Nile.
It allows schools to share part of their income with athletes, potentially up to $ 20.5 million during the 2025-26 academic year.
As part of the regulation, the NCAA will impose new list limits for teams, which will replace the limits of the scholarships. In football, 105 players will be allowed on a list, including walk-ons, from fall.
Franklin has already discussed the new limit of the list with Penn State players. The team had 120 players registered on Tuesday on its list, not to mention six members of its recruitment class in 2025 who should register in May or June.
“It will be different,” he said. “We lost 16 guys (against injuries) during the season last year. Now you are now 16 guys that you lost during the season that you are not allowed to replace under the 105 rules. How are you going to train?
“Many commissioners and advertisements said:” Well, the NFL does with 53. You should be able to do it with 105. “It is not precise.
Under the regulations, schools will be able to share up to 22% of the income from media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships with athletes. They will also be able to conclude names, image and resemblance agreements directly with athletes.
In the case of Penn State, the school negotiated in December and early January what it would pay for football players for the 2025 season, even if it was not sure how much money would be allocated to the sharing of income.
This will not be known before April 7 or later.
“You had to conclude these transactions before closing the transfer portal because it affected people’s decisions,” said Franklin. “But you did not know all the rules of engagement either and how it will be developed because it was still under work in court.”
What we know is that the former athletes will receive a salary, the current athletes will be paid and that the lists will be cut.
“It’s like anything else,” said Franklin. “You cannot be stubborn and say:” This is how we have always done so. “You will have to adapt to new rules and kiss them.
