A Unit 1 Hoop Source Briefing on The Athletic’s Deep Dive Into the Future of College Basketball Economics

Unit 1 Hoop Source – College Basketball + Athletics

Over the years of covering players, coaches, and programs from across the country, I’ve tried to stay grounded in more than just game film and box scores. I’ve taken a real interest in understanding the business and operational frameworks that are shaping the next generation of college basketball.

This past week, I came across a powerful piece from The Athletic that opened my eyes even further. Their latest article titled, “What we’re hearing about college basketball budgets in revenue-sharing era: ‘Money-dump year’”, takes us deep inside the rising financial tide in college hoops — one driven by revenue sharing, NIL reform, and the uncertain new world ushered in by the House v. NCAA settlement.

🔗 Read it here → What we’re hearing about college basketball budgets in revenue-sharing era: ‘Money-dump year’

What stood out most in this piece wasn’t just the data — it was the undercurrent of uncertainty voiced by 35 Division I head coaches, all of whom were polled anonymously during the 2025 Peach Jam. These were high-level voices from across major and mid-major conferences, and nearly all of them expressed the same concern: the current model isn’t sustainable.

🧩 Breaking Down the New Model: What’s Happening?

As of July 1, the long-awaited House v. NCAA settlement officially took effect. This means—for the first time ever—universities can now directly pay athletes through a new revenue-sharing system capped at $20.5 million per school per year across all sports. That’s a game-changing development.

But here’s where things get even more layered:

• 💼 Players can still pursue third-party NIL deals — those don’t count against the $20.5M cap.
• 👁️ However, those deals will now face scrutiny via a new governing body called NIL Go, established by the College Sports Commission (CSC), which will function like a clearinghouse to approve and monitor NIL agreements.

In short, even as new opportunities arise, new guardrails and uncertainties are forming just as fast.

🏀 Where Does Men’s Basketball Fit In?

According to Opendorse, a trusted NIL analytics platform, most Power 5 basketball programs are expected to receive roughly 20.3% of the school’s $20.5 million pot — that’s between $4–5 million annually to spend on their roster. That’s in addition to external NIL deals still active for many top-tier players.

But even more eye-popping? When The Athletic asked coaches to estimate what programs in their conferences are spending on men’s basketball alone for the 2025–26 season, the numbers were staggering. Though estimates varied, there’s a clear trend:

💰 Basketball budgets are ballooning.

In the ACC alone, there’s reportedly an eight-figure gap between the highest- and lowest-spending programs.

This era has redefined what it costs to “build a roster.” And as The Athletic highlighted, these costs are no longer solely covered by boosters and collectives — they’re now partially institutionalized through revenue sharing.

🧠 What This Means for Parents, Recruits, and Fans

The average parent of a student-athlete has no idea how complex this ecosystem has become. NIL, collectives, clearinghouses, caps, revenue splits — it’s a lot to digest. But understanding the foundation of this new economy is vital.

• 📌 This isn’t just about players getting “paid.” It’s about how, when, and who controls the funds.
• 📌 Revenue sharing may create more structure, but also introduces risk, regulation, and deeper disparitybetween programs.
• 📌 NIL Go could potentially flag or reject massive third-party deals, shifting power back toward schools and conferences.

🧾 Final Takeaway

This briefing isn’t a full recap of The Athletic’s piece, but rather a spotlight on the key issues reshaping college basketball as we know it. At Unit 1 Hoop Source, we’ll continue tracking how these policies evolve — and how they impact the future of grassroots development, recruiting, coaching stability, and player freedom.

One thing’s for sure: we’re watching a new college basketball economy being built in real time.

🔗 Full article by The Athletic → Click here

—

🧠 For more clarity, breakdowns, and scouting from the world of grassroots and college basketball, stay locked in to Unit 1 Hoop Source.

📬 Subscribe to the newsletter → unit1hoopsource.substack.com
🌐 Full site → www.u1hoops.com
📲 Follow us on X/Twitter & IG → @Unit1HoopSource