College Sports Cash Flow: A New Era of Athlete Pay

College sports is changing fast. Starting July 1, schools can pay athletes directly. This is a big deal. It's a shift from the old way, where athletes couldn't get paid. Now, they can earn money from their skills. Before this change, groups called collectives were giving athletes money. They spent a lot. In June, they spent 824% more than last year. That's a huge jump. Other months saw big increases too. January was up 215%, and April saw an 182% rise. These spikes happened around times when athletes could transfer to new schools. Some schools went all in. Texas Tech, for example, brought in top players. They used this time to build their team. The school's athletic director called it a once-in-a-decade chance. But where is all this money going? Quarterbacks get the most in football. That makes sense. They're often the stars. In basketball, guards get a lot of money in men's games. Women's basketball spends a lot on centers. Now, schools will share revenue with athletes. This is new. Schools have to decide how to split the money. Football will likely get the most. But other sports will get some too. It's a tough job for school leaders. They have to balance everyone's needs. The future is uncertain. Some think NIL money from collectives will drop. It might go from $1. 3 billion to just $77. 9 million by 2028. But schools will have new money to give athletes. So, overall pay could still go up. Schools will need to find other ways to make money for athletes. They'll have to market their players well. This new system is complex. It's a big change from the past.