CSC data show $230,000 median revenue share for power-conference quarterbacks

The College Sports Commission, the body created under the House settlement, published tables that report percentiles rather than averages for each sport, split between the four power conferences and everyone else. The data cover institutional revenue-share payments and third-party NIL deals, with separate revenue-share figures for every rostered athlete and for only those paid or scheduled to be paid. NIL figures cover only athletes with at least one cleared deal and reflect full contract value, not annualized.

Among power-conference quarterbacks with a revenue-share agreement, the median payment for calendar year 2026 is $230,000, the 75th percentile is $675,000 and the 90th percentile is $1,611,000, according to the CSC tables. Defensive linemen had a $150,000 median, offensive linemen $133,000 and long snappers $30,000. Youth Sports Business Report calculated from the tables that 70% to 83% of power-conference players at skill and line positions held a revenue-share deal. The CSC cautions that during the football season its payment system counts contingent performance incentives as scheduled payments, so the 2026 figures assume every bonus is earned.

Schools paid $1.77 billion in revenue share through the College Athlete Payment System during the 2025-26 academic year, the commission said. The money went to just under 35,000 athletes at 307 institutions across 45 sports. The total recorded distribution came to nearly $1.9 billion and included $42 million in Alston awards and $163 million in new and incremental scholarship spending. It excludes third-party NIL money.

How the cap works

The first-year cap was $20.5 million per school, equal to 22% of average athletic revenue across the top 68 schools. For 2026-27 the ceiling rose to $21.58 million and became available on July 1. Scholarships, academic and athletic awards, educational benefits and medical coverage count toward the total value, which can reach about 50% of revenue at the top 68 schools. That 50% share is meant to emulate what professional male athletes receive in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.

On3 reported, citing Yahoo Sports, that roughly 60 to 65 schools distributed at least $17.9 million each, with many believed to have met or exceeded last year's $20.5 million cap. Deals above $600 go through NIL Go review for fair-market value.

Outside the power four

At most non-power-conference positions, only about 30% of rostered football players receive any revenue-share payment, and kickers come in at 16%, according to Youth Sports Business Report's calculation from the CSC tables. Medians among those paid run $14,000 to $18,000, with quarterbacks at $31,000 against the $230,000 power-conference figure. The 90th percentile for non-power-conference quarterbacks is $260,000. The CSC put the median cleared NIL contract for a power-conference quarterback at $65,550, a figure that reflects full contract value and is not annualized.

Olympic sports

According to the CSC tables, across lacrosse, rowing, cross country, fencing and other Olympic sports, the median revenue-share payment to athletes who are paid at all is $500. In baseball, softball and women's volleyball at power-conference schools, fewer than half of rostered athletes get paid, and medians run $6,000 to $12,000.