Significant changes are on the horizon for college golf following a settlement agreement reached by the NCAA, the Power Five conferences, and lawyers representing plaintiffs in antitrust cases related to the compensation of college athletes. The proposed settlement includes a nearly $2.8 billion damages pool for current and former athletes and aims to fundamentally transform how the top level of competition in college sports is governed. While these changes won’t take effect immediately, they are set to reshape the landscape of college golf in the near future.
Direct Payment for Name, Image, and Likeness
Division I schools will soon have the ability to compensate athletes directly for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This compensation will be subject to a per-school cap that is expected to increase over time. Additionally, athletes will still be permitted to enter into NIL agreements with third-party entities, but the NCAA will now have the authority to establish rules to oversee and regulate these arrangements. Athletes may also be required to demonstrate progress towards a degree to qualify for the payments outlined in the settlement.
Roster Caps and Scholarship Limitations
One of the significant changes affecting college golf will be the implementation of roster caps. While scholarship limitations will be eliminated across all sports, roster caps will be enforced. In the case of college men’s and women’s golf, the roster cap will be set at nine players per team. This means that schools can offer up to nine full scholarships but cannot have more than nine athletes on their roster in any given season. Previously, there were no roster limits, and men’s teams were allowed 4½ scholarships while women’s teams had 6.
Impact on College Golf Programs
Looking specifically at the Power 4 Conferences (SEC, Big 10, Big 12, and ACC), the introduction of roster caps is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 65 spots for the following year based on current numbers. When considering all Division I schools, the impact will be even more significant. Furthermore, there is a looming possibility of sports programs, including college golf, facing cuts in the future due to these changes. While immediate effects may not be felt until the 2024-25 season, the recent ruling is just the beginning of anticipated transformations in college golf.
By: Cameron Jourdan
Title: Major Changes Coming to College Golf After NCAA Settlement Agreement
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2024/07/29/after-ncaa-settlement-agreement-these-big-changes-are-coming-to-college-golf/
Published Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2024 11:00:46 +0000
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