The First Whistle: July 1st

The NCAA has set a $20.5 million cap on new athlete benefits per school for the 2025–26 year as part of the House v. NCAA settlement, but plaintiffs’ lawyers are auditing the revenue data used to calculate that figure. If their review, which focuses on revenue classification—particularly luxury suite and “Other Operating Revenue” reporting—finds discrepancies, future caps may be adjusted. This is significant because the Year 1 cap sets the baseline for scheduled annual increases. Though any correction likely won’t affect the 2025–26 year, it could reshape future distributions and benefit both athletes and lawyers, who stand to earn a share of these payments.

💰️ Read full USA Today article here

Texas Athletics is launching the Longhorn Sports Agency in partnership with Learfield’s Longhorn Sports Properties. This is a centralized NIL operation designed to expand branding and sponsorship opportunities for student-athletes. The agency integrates Learfield Impact’s services with existing campus media assets like Longhorn Network and Learfield Studios to provide content creation, deal facilitation, and brand strategy support. Led by Vice President Lucas Motta, the agency will include a dedicated team focused on NIL business development and creative production. By streamlining resources and leveraging Learfield’s expertise, Texas aims to establish a leading NIL infrastructure that enhances student-athlete visibility, builds brand partnerships, and strengthens the Longhorns’ presence in the evolving NIL landscape.

⛹️‍♂️ Read full press release here

Texas State has officially accepted an invitation to join the Pac-12, becoming the conference’s ninth member ahead of its 2026 relaunch. The university will leave the Sun Belt after the 2025–26 season, paying a $5 million exit fee, and compete in all sports within the Pac-12 starting in 2026–27. The addition secures the Pac-12’s FBS status and expands its presence into Texas, with Texas State joining a rebuilt lineup alongside schools like Boise State, Gonzaga, and Oregon State. Leaders at Texas State called the move a milestone moment that reflects the university’s growth and ambition on a national stage.

🏈 Read full ESPN article here

The WNBA announced that Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia will each receive expansion teams, with launches scheduled for 2028, 2029, and 2030, respectively. This move brings the league’s total number of franchises to 18 by the end of the decade, following earlier additions in Portland and Toronto set for 2026. Cleveland and Detroit mark returns to former WNBA cities, while Philadelphia will debut a new franchise under the ownership group of the NBA’s 76ers. The expansion reflects the league’s recent surge in popularity, with franchise values rising an average of 180% in the past year.

🏙️ Read full CNN Sports article here

Pro Athlete Community (PAC), a platform supporting current and former professional athletes, has raised $7.6 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round led by GSV Ventures. Founded in 2022, PAC offers tailored executive education, mentorship, and career support through partnerships like its program with the University of Miami Business School. With over 650 athlete members across 10+ sports, PAC aims to help athletes transition beyond their playing careers with the tools and community they need to succeed. The funding will support new virtual programs, expanded mentorship, and greater access to industry networks.

📈 Read full PAC article here

Ohio State's 2024 national championship in football came with a $20 million player payroll, the highest in the country—but that number is already outdated. In 2025, top college football programs like Ohio State are expected to spend $30–35 million on player compensation, fueled by front-loaded booster deals and a new $20.5 million per-school revenue-sharing allowance. With new NCAA rules now requiring NIL deals to go through a “fair market” clearinghouse, schools and collectives are adjusting quickly, consolidating operations and raising funds to stay competitive.

🤑 Read full Wall Street Journal article here

Owl AI, a new sports technology company born from an X Games experiment, has officially launched following an $11 million seed round led by S32. The platform uses AI to judge, referee, and even coach athletes, aiming to eliminate human error in sports outcomes. Former Google Cloud Head of AI Josh Gwyther will serve as CEO, while X Games CEO and former Olympian Jeremy Bloom is executive chairman. Originally developed with help from Google cofounder Sergey Brin, Owl AI has already been deployed at the Winter X Games and will return at the Summer X Games, with additional pro league partnerships under discussion.

🏂️ Read full Fast Company article here

⬆️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Following his historic season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agreed to a 4-year, $285 million extension, setting a new NBA record for the highest single-season average salary ever. - NBA.com News Services

⬆️ Bobby Bonilla. This week, baseball fans celebrated Bobby Bonilla day as the former Met collected his annual $1.19 million check—part of a legendary deferred deal that requires the Mets to pay him every July 1 from 2011 through 2035. – Jenna West and Dan Shanoff

⬆️ Jalen Ramsey. In being traded to the Steelers, All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey has locked in a $1.5M raise—bringing his 2025 salary to $26.6M. – Timm Hamm

⬇️ Malik Beasley. Malik Beasley is under federal investigation for alleged gambling activity during the 2023-24 NBA season. The probe includes suspicious betting patterns tied to his player props, including a January game that saw odds shift drastically before tipoff—though the bets in question ultimately lost. – Shams Charania