Sixty-eight schools reached or came within 5% of the $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap during the first season of NIL payments, according to figures tied to the College Sports Commission.
The $20.5 million limit represents a key benchmark in the new era of college athletics, as schools navigate direct revenue sharing with athletes alongside existing name, image and likeness opportunities.
The number of programs approaching the cap underscores the scale of early participation across college sports. It also reflects how quickly schools have adjusted their financial models under the first season of the new payment structure.
No additional details were provided on which schools reached the cap or how the payments were distributed by sport.