Late last week, Judge Claudia Wilken gave final approval of the House vs. NCAA case. Key changes are coming to college sports as a result, most notably the introduction of a revenue sharing model which allows schools to share up to $20.5 million with student-athletes in year one. Additionally, new roster limits will be phased in over time for all sports with the opportunity for institutions to fund unlimited scholarships up to each sport's newly established roster limit. 

This is a pivotal moment in the history of college athletics and one that represents an incredible opportunity for Maryland Athletics.  

As we communicated this past January, we are committed to investing the maximum-allowable amount of $20.5M with our student-athletes, with the vast majority of it going to our revenue-producing sports – football, men's basketball and women's basketball. We will also add scholarship support to our varsity programs as needed to be successful and continue to invest in our student-athletes through resources related to financial literacy, mental health services, branding and NIL opportunities, among other areas. We are committed to adapt, lead and invest in championship-caliber programs and student-athletes.

In all, we anticipate new expenses exceeding $25 million annually starting on July 1 as we enter the next fiscal year.   

The role of collectives and the function of third-party NIL agreements are also changing. Under more strict guidelines, student-athlete deals involving their name, image, and likeness above $600 will be reviewed by a court-mandated national clearinghouse to ensure the range of compensation is more directly tied to appropriate commercial standards and not used for recruiting or roster retention inducements. The College Sports Commission (CSC) is the new enforcement organization that is overseeing the systems to allow institutions to share revenue directly with student-athletes and ensure third-party NIL deals are fair and comply with the rules.

You play a critical role in the direction of Maryland Athletics, as you always have. And that role may be more heightened today than it ever has been in determining our success in all three pillars.

By investing philanthropically in any fundraising initiative within Maryland Athletics, you're enabling the department to maximize the experience provided to student-athletes through revenue share, tuition, and room and board. 

By purchasing season tickets or putting a group together to come to a game, you're equipping expert coaches with the resources to provide world-class training to our student-athletes.

By leveraging our student-athletes to help grow your company's brand, you're empowering student-athletes to use their name, image and likeness to impact our community. Our NIL arm, One Maryland, headed by Terp softball alum Mandy Allendorfer, is set up to find commercial NIL opportunities for our student-athletes. 

And, by showing up, cheering loud and rooting our teams on, you're showing your pride in Maryland Athletics and the University of Maryland.

Maryland Athletics, through support from the Terrapin Club and other revenue streams, will provide annual funding for revenue sharing, student-athlete scholarships and a range of efforts that elevate the student-athlete experience – both on and off the playing surface. 

Please reach out to me or a member of our team with any questions or interests. We look forward to working together and using this landmark opportunity to establish ourselves as a top contender in the Big Ten Conference and across the national landscape.

Thank you for all you do.

To Victory!

Kirby Mills '11
Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief Development Officer