Bloomberg
How Paying Players Is Changing the Business of College Sports
Thursday, September 17, 2026
College athletes are now receiving direct compensation from their universities and athletic programs through name, image, and likeness deals and revenue-sharing arrangements. Universities have expanded facilities, enhanced player housing, and increased meal allowances to compete for recruits. These changes reflect a shift from the traditional model where only coaches and athletic departments directly profited from student athletes' participation in revenue-generating sports.
