Navigating the New Era of College Athletics: A Guide to the College Sports Commission (CSC)

The June 2025 approval of the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA antitrust settlement officially ended the traditional amateurism model in college sports, paving the way for institutions to directly compensate student-athletes through revenue sharing. To manage this massive structural shift, a brand new regulatory sheriff was introduced to the college sports landscape: the College Sports Commission.

Here is a breakdown of what the College Sports Commission is, who runs it, and how it changes the way rules are enforced in collegiate athletics.

What is the CSC in college sports?

The College Sports Commission (CSC) is a first-of-its-kind, independent governing body established in 2025 by the Power 5 conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC). Its primary purpose is to oversee and enforce compliance with the new rules born out of the House v. NCAA settlement. Specifically, the CSC regulates three main areas:

• Institutional Revenue Sharing: Monitoring the distribution of direct payments from schools to athletes, which is capped at roughly $20.5 million per institution for the 2025–26 academic year.

• Roster Limits: Tracking compliance with new sport-specific roster limits that have replaced traditional scholarship caps.

• Third-Party NIL Deals: The CSC operates "NIL Go," a centralized digital clearinghouse developed in partnership with the accounting firm Deloitte. All Division I student-athletes must report any third-party Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal valued at $600 or more to this portal. The CSC reviews these submissions to ensure they reflect "fair market value" and serve a "valid business purpose," rooting out disguised "pay-for-play" inducements.

Who runs the College Sports Commission (CSC)?

The CSC is led by its inaugural CEO, Bryan Seeley. Seeley brings extensive investigative experience to the role, having previously served as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and as the longtime head of investigations for Major League Baseball. Seeley does not report to the NCAA in Indianapolis; instead, he reports directly to a board comprised of the Power 5 conference commissioners.

Who investigates NCAA violations?

With the creation of the CSC, the investigation of rules violations in college sports is now a bifurcated system.

• The CSC is strictly responsible for investigating alleged violations of the new NCAA bylaws developed as part of the House settlement. This means the CSC investigates anything related to NIL revenue-sharing caps, roster limits, and improper third-party NIL agreements.

• The NCAA's enforcement department remains fully responsible for investigating and enforcing all rules that fall outside the scope of the settlement. This includes traditional infractions such as academic eligibility issues, recruiting violations not related to NIL, and other non-NIL amateurism rules.

What is the College Sports Commission enforcement agreement?

By opting into the revenue-sharing model to directly compensate athletes, participating institutions agree to grant the CSC vast authority to investigate alleged violations of settlement-related rules, enforce the terms of the agreement, and issue penalties.

Under this enforcement framework, if the CSC investigates and concludes that a violation of the settlement rules has occurred, CEO Bryan Seeley has the sole authority to prescribe penalties for those infractions. However, the system includes a checks-and-balances mechanism: if a student-athlete or an institution faces enforcement consequences—such as a rejected NIL deal or a penalty—they have the right to challenge the CSC's decision through a neutral, third-party arbitration process. Student-athletes can be represented by counsel during this arbitration, and the presiding neutral arbitrator is required to issue a final, binding decision within 45 days.

Frequently Asked Questions: Navigating NIL and the New College Sports Landscape

• What is the House v. NCAA settlement?

  The House v. NCAA settlement resolves a federal antitrust lawsuit challenging NCAA restrictions on athlete compensation. It permits Division I schools to directly share revenue with student-athletes, changing the financial structure of college athletics.

• When will schools be allowed to share revenue with athletes?

  Revenue sharing is expected to begin as early as the 2025–26 academic year, subject to final court approval and implementation rules adopted by the NCAA and conferences.

• Does the House settlement eliminate NIL?

  No. NIL remains in place. The settlement adds school-funded revenue sharing alongside NIL, creating a dual compensation model with more compliance complexity.

• How much money can athletes receive under the settlement?

  Each school will have an annual revenue-sharing cap projected around $20–22 million, adjusted over time. Individual athlete payments will vary by sport, conference guidance, and institutional policy.

• Will NIL collectives still be allowed?

  Yes, but collectives will face more scrutiny. Deals should reflect legitimate market value and avoid structures that look like pay-for-play or recruiting inducements.

• Do athletes need legal review for NIL contracts now?

  Yes. With evolving rules, tax issues, disclosure requirements, and eligibility risk, athletes should have NIL agreements reviewed before signing.

Need Help Navigating NIL or NCAA Compliance?

Our firm advises athletes, schools, collectives, and businesses on NIL contracts, eligibility issues, revenue-sharing compliance, and NCAA regulatory risk nationwide.

If you have questions about how the House v. NCAA settlement affects your rights or obligations, now is the time to act—not after a problem arises.

Contact one of our experienced sports attorneys to discuss your situation.