Revenue sharing went live July 1. The date that changes what a college program can actually hand a family is August 1, when schools may formally begin presenting written revenue-sharing contract terms to uncommitted high school prospects.
Before August 1, offers are verbal
From the moment revenue sharing became operational, programs could discuss compensation figures with prospects informally. Many did not wait. Sources across the industry have noted that frameworks and dollar ranges were shared throughout the spring and summer, well ahead of the official date. The rule draws a line at putting those figures into a binding written agreement before August 1.
For families who received a number during an official visit this spring or early summer, that number was a conversation. After August 1, it can become a document.
What a written offer actually contains
Revenue-sharing contracts carry terms that verbal commitments do not. When reviewing a written offer, families should understand several things.
- The revenue-share amount and whether it is guaranteed or tied to performance
- The duration: single-year or multi-year
- Exit conditions: most contracts include buyout clauses that activate if the athlete enters the transfer portal before the term expires
- The distinction between the revenue-share figure and any third-party NIL the program may also quote separately
The contract cannot be signed until the early signing period opens in December. August 1 starts the presentation window. It does not close the deal.
What this means for uncommitted families
The verbal offer race that drove more than 160 commitments over the July 4 window has largely resolved. The next phase is written terms.
For a family whose athlete is still uncommitted, that creates a more structured decision environment. An uncommitted athlete in August can ask for a written figure, review it with an advisor, and compare what programs are actually willing to put on paper against what was said during a campus visit.
The gap between the informal number and the written number matters. If those figures do not match, the difference is worth asking about before making a final decision.
August 1 does not make recruiting simpler. Programs operated around the spirit of these rules throughout the spring, presenting informal frameworks before the date allowed it. But it does change what a family is entitled to ask for, and what they should expect to receive, before a commitment becomes final.