College sports are entering one of the biggest transitions in their history. The $2.8 billion antitrust settlement known as the House settlement has reshaped the structure of college athletics by allowing schools to pay athletes directly. While this shift opens new doors for student athletes, it also creates significant financial pressure for many programs, especially historically Black colleges and universities and women’s sports that do not generate high revenue.
Even with these challenges, many HBCUs and women’s programs are approaching the moment with creativity and determination. Their focus is on staying competitive, protecting opportunities and strengthening equity as the landscape shifts.
Growing Concerns for HBCUs and Women’s Programs
For athletic directors at smaller schools, opting into revenue sharing is a difficult decision. It keeps them competitive in recruiting but forces them to rethink their financial priorities. Morgan State athletic director Dena Freeman Patton explained that her school would not cut services for current athletes, especially women, even as budgets tighten. Morgan State has committed to creating equal revenue sharing pools for both men’s and women’s sports, although its total athletic revenue is far smaller compared to the major Power Four programs.
Female athletes across the country are also expressing concerns. Many believe the benefits of the new model heavily favor football and men’s basketball players. Without clear requirements for gender parity, athletes worry that Title IX protections could weaken. New roster size limits only add to the uncertainty. Some teams, including track and field programs, have already seen cuts in anticipation of the changes.
Recent examples include Prairie View A and M eliminating both tennis programs and Stephen F. Austin announcing plans to cut beach volleyball, bowling and golf. A lawsuit filed by female athletes stopped the cuts temporarily, but the situation highlights how fragile non revenue sports can be.
Athletes like distance runner Emily Pierce say the lack of information is more stressful than the settlement itself. Many want to believe that facilities and recruiting support will improve, but ongoing roster cuts leave some unsure about their future.
Creative Funding Strategies to Stay Competitive
With limited athletic budgets, HBCUs are finding new ways to generate revenue that do not pull funds away from existing programs. Many schools believe opting into the settlement is necessary to remain competitive in recruiting, even if it adds financial strain.
Some athletic departments are using their arenas and stadiums as multipurpose venues. Concerts, community events and outside rentals are becoming more common sources of income. Others are relying heavily on guarantee games. These games occur when Power Four schools pay smaller programs to visit for non conference matchups. For example, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball team will play at Georgia Tech, Georgia, Nebraska, Creighton, Virginia and Virginia Tech this season. The women’s team has games at Northwestern, Oklahoma and Virginia.
Maryland Eastern Shore plans to use the payouts from these guarantee games exclusively to fund revenue sharing for men’s and women’s basketball. This strategy allows the school to participate without pulling from its operational budget. For programs without football revenue, the model provides a manageable starting point.
Athletic leaders at HBCUs describe the moment as another challenge they will adapt to, just as they always have. They have long worked with fewer resources than most Division I programs, yet they remain committed to supporting their athletes and protecting opportunities for women.
A Renewed Focus on Title IX and Equity
Even in a time of uncertainty, some see an important opportunity. The settlement has reignited conversation around Title IX and the responsibility schools have to maintain proportional access and support for women’s sports. Many female athletes note that in some cases men’s football and basketball already receive more resources and better facilities. They hope this transition forces athletic departments to address those gaps.
Sydney Moore, a former volleyball player at Cornell and Syracuse, emphasized that many women’s programs still struggle to access basic resources that male athletes take for granted. In her view, the new model could motivate schools to finally build more equitable support systems.
Looking Ahead
The new era of college sports presents real financial challenges, especially for HBCUs and women’s programs that have fought for growth and stability. Yet through strategic planning, community engagement and renewed advocacy for equity, many schools are working to ensure that student athletes do not lose opportunities.
This transition brings uncertainty, but it also has the potential to create a stronger and more balanced future for all athletes.
