College athletes across the United States collectively earned $1.8 billion through direct payments in the inaugural year of a new revenue-sharing system, according to the College Sports Commission (CSC). The College Athlete Payment System (CAPS) tracked payments distributed by 307 schools covering nearly 35,000 student-athletes in 45 sports across 33 conferences during the 2025-26 academic year. Schools were allowed to allocate up to $20.5 million each to their athletes, deciding how to distribute these funds across various rosters and sports.

This revenue sharing is distinct from the name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals that athletes also engage in with third-party entities, which are monitored via a separate platform called NIL Go. CAPS reflects payments that come directly from the schools themselves, designed to provide greater financial support to student-athletes while ensuring regulatory compliance. In total, the system facilitated nearly $2 billion in combined payments, including revenue sharing, Alston Awards, and incremental scholarship expenses.

Notable college athletic programs have been spending significant sums on athlete compensation. For example, leading college football programs like Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas reportedly operate with payrolls between $45 million and $54 million, while top basketball programs typically spend over $20 million annually. Coaches like Dan Hurley of UConn praised the financial improvements for athletes and staff, emphasizing the current era as unprecedentedly beneficial for college athletes in major sports.

The revenue-sharing payment cap increased to $21.58 million for the 2026-27 year, reflecting annual growth under the House Settlement terms. While some skepticism remains about whether smaller programs can compete financially with top-tier schools, many believe the opportunity for underdog success remains, maintaining excitement in college sports. The College Sports Commission continues to oversee these payments, aiming to balance athlete compensation and competitive integrity.