College sports powerhouse Clemson University is making major moves to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving landscape of NCAA athletics. On Tuesday, Athletic Director Graham Neff announced that the Tigers will fully participate in revenue sharing under the NCAA’s upcoming legal settlement and add an impressive 150 scholarships across all sports for the 2025-26 academic year.
Clemson Embraces Revenue Sharing to Level the Playing Field
Head football coach Dabo Swinney has long felt that the current state of college athletics is like “Wackyland,” with schools that have larger donor bases and better-funded collectives gaining an advantage over programs like Clemson. But by fully committing to the revenue-sharing program outlined in the NCAA’s House settlement, the Tigers aim to help restore some normalcy and balance to the game.
Under the settlement, Clemson will share the maximum allowable amount of $20.5 million with its athletes in 2025-26. This move is expected to help level the playing field between schools with varying levels of resources and funding.
Investing in Student-Athletes: 150 New Scholarships
In addition to the revenue sharing, Clemson will significantly increase its investment in student-athletes by adding 150 scholarships across its 21 sports programs. This will bring the total number of scholarships from 275 to an impressive 425, demonstrating the university’s commitment to supporting its athletes’ academic and athletic pursuits.
Nobody is going to have more money than Clemson once revenue-sharing is paired with NIL. Nobody, for the first time ever. That’ll be good.
– Dabo Swinney, Clemson Head Football Coach
Navigating NIL Challenges and Boosting Donor Support
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals have presented challenges for many schools, but Clemson is taking proactive steps to adapt. The athletic department will partner its collective, the “110 Society,” with its long-standing scholarship fundraising arm, “IPTAY.” This move will allow donors to earn points for perks like better seating and parking by contributing to the collective, incentivizing support for student-athletes.
The NIL part’s been a challenge. But now with being able to get points and all that, that’s really going to help us between now and July when revenue sharing is expected to start. We need everybody’s support on that, to be sure. It’s what we’ve got to be able to compete until we get there.
– Dabo Swinney
Centralized Oversight and Financial Education
To ensure compliance and effective allocation of resources, Clemson’s athletic department will establish a centralized “Front Office” to oversee contract details and distribution strategies related to the revenue-sharing payments. These payments will supplement scholarships, providing additional support for student-athletes.
Recognizing the importance of financial literacy, Coach Swinney also plans to have financial planners meet with his players twice a week to help them manage their money responsibly. “There’s going to be a lot of opportunity to really teach these guys,” Swinney noted.
Looking Ahead: Positioning Clemson for Long-Term Success
By fully embracing revenue sharing, significantly increasing scholarships, and implementing strategic initiatives to navigate the evolving college sports landscape, Clemson is taking decisive action to position itself for long-term success. Athletic Director Graham Neff emphasized the significance of these moves in his letter to supporters:
This is a significant step in best positioning ourselves for long-term success.
– Graham Neff, Clemson Athletic Director
As the Tigers forge ahead with these transformative changes, they remain committed to supporting their student-athletes and maintaining their status as a powerhouse in college athletics. With full participation in revenue sharing, a substantial increase in scholarships, and innovative strategies to engage donors and educate athletes, Clemson is poised to thrive in the new era of NCAA sports.
