The NCAA’s Greed Threatens to Bankrupt the Organization and Hurt Smaller Conferences

The NCAA is facing a financial crisis of epic proportions as their greed has finally caught up with them. With a $20 billion back damage judgment looming over their heads, the organization is scrambling to come up with a solution before facing bankruptcy. A proposed $2.8 billion settlement is on the table, but it comes at a steep cost.

In order to pay off this massive debt, the NCAA plans to cut school distribution funds by 20 percent each year, resulting in a loss of $1.6 billion for athletic programs nationwide. Smaller conferences like the MEAC and SWAC will be hit the hardest, losing out on valuable funding and resources to remain competitive.

Sports columnist Gregg Doyel has sounded the alarm on this clandestine settlement, warning that the NCAA and Power 5 conferences are not interested in being fair. The burden of paying off the settlement would fall on schools outside of the Power 5, with each conference responsible for a hefty $37 million bill.

The consequences of this financial crisis are dire, with student-athletes and athletic programs bearing the brunt of the NCAA’s greed. As the Name, Image, and Likeness revolution continues to reshape college sports, the NCAA’s refusal to share the wealth with smaller conferences is putting the future of collegiate athletics at risk.

With the end of the legal battle between the NCAA and student-athletes looming, it seems that the Power 5 conferences will continue to prioritize their own interests over the well-being of others. As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, the future of college sports hangs in the balance.