The Gophers athletic department will distribute $20.5 million to athletes this school year, with the first payments set to hit bank accounts in July.
The recently approved House v. NCAA settlement cleared schools to pay athletes directly for the first time in history. Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle has committed to spending the full $20.5 million allotment, joining every other Big Ten institution.
Here is how that looks for Gophers athletics:
What is the House settlement?
It’s a settlement involving three antitrust cases — House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA — in which student-athletes sued the NCAA over either NIL compensation or amateur rules. The namesake figures in each are former Arizona State swimmer Grant House, former Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard and former Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter.
Defendants — the NCAA and the five largest conferences (Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12) — and plaintiffs signed off on the settlement’s terms in 2024.
How much will athletes receive?
Division I schools can share up to $20.5 million of revenue per school annually with current athletes, with that amount increasing 4% each year under a 10-year deal. This will mark the first time that NCAA schools will use a formal revenue-sharing plan with athletes. Under the settlement, athletes still will not be considered employees.
Each school that opts into revenue sharing, as Minnesota and all 18 Big Ten members have for the maximum $20.5 million, will determine how it wants to divvy up the funds among its programs. These new payments will be in addition to scholarships and all other benefits athletes already receive from their universities.
Where will the money come from?
The $20.5 million will have to come from the athletic department of every University participating. Coyle committed to pay the full amount of that $20.5 million cap, meaning revenue sharing will account for 12% of expenses this year. He said his department will work with the university to manage the deficit.