College Coaches Express Concerns Over New Revenue-Sharing Rules

Less than a month into college football's new revenue-sharing era, coaches across Texas are voicing concerns about compliance and enforcement.

Under the recent House v. NCAA settlement, schools can now compensate student-athletes up to a capped pool—starting at $20.5 million per program in the 2025-26 season, with annual increases of approximately 4%.

At the Texas High School Coaches Association's annual convention in San Antonio, seasoned leaders like Steve Sarkisian of Texas emphasized the potential risks of exceeding these caps.

“Somewhere down the road … someone is going to get punished for going over the cap,” Sarkisian cautioned, highlighting the complexities of managing benefits alongside existing scholarship, NIL, and in-kind rules.

Similarly, Rhett Lashlee of SMU expressed skepticism about the system's ability to deter rule-breakers: “They’ll circumvent the cap … because they’ve been doing it for decades.”

Coaches from programs both large and small are scrambling to understand the settlement’s reporting requirements, auditing procedures, and potential sanctions.

Many anticipate creative workarounds—such as extra housing stipends, academic stipends, or off-the-books perks—that could blur legal lines.

As athletic directors and compliance staffs build new frameworks, the message is clear: balancing player support against strict caps will test both ethics and ingenuity.

With tens of millions at stake and high-profile programs watching closely, the coming months may reveal who thrives—and who faces fallout—in college football’s boldest financial shift yet.