How NCAA Division I conferences choose to deal with the implications of the House, et al., v. NCAA, et al. settlement, and in particular the revenue-sharing mechanism known as the “pool,” has been the subject of much speculation and debate. Commentators have asked whether conferences will require participation, or leave it up to each member institution, or perhaps include a mandatory minimum level of participation. Recently, one conference, the American Athletic Conference (AAC), has taken a stance and enacted a rule requiring every AAC member institution, with the exception of Army and Navy (which are both “football only” members of the AAC), to participate in the House revenue-sharing “pool” to the tune of a minimum of $10 million cumulative over the next three seasons, making it the first Division I conference to require mandatory participation of its members. While $10 million may seem like a lot, it is spread out over three years, and as such it averages out to only $3.33 million per season. Further, assuming the House settlement is approved, per the settlement terms, Alston academic and graduation incentive awards up to $2.5 million per year per institution, as well as the value of new or additional scholarships offered in excess of the current scholarship caps, count toward the House “pool” amount. Thus, it remains to be seen how AAC members choose to meet this $10 million minimum and how much, if any, each will consist of direct name, image, and likeness payments to student-athletes.
