Last updated: November 1, 2026
Spring sports NIL works very differently from football or basketball: softball, baseball, lacrosse, track and tennis athletes share only a small slice of school revenue-sharing money, so most of what they earn comes from outside deals they build themselves. With spring seasons a few months away, here is where the money goes, how roster rules changed and the channels that actually pay.
Quick summary
- Opendorse estimated that in 2025-26 the average school put 63.8% of revenue sharing into football and 20.9% into men’s basketball, leaving 7.3% for all other sports outside women’s basketball.
- The settlement replaced sport-by-sport scholarship limits with roster limits starting July 1, 2025.
- Big spring-sport deals exist, led by Texas Tech softball pitcher NiJaree Canady’s seven-figure packages, but they are rare.
- For most spring athletes, camps, lessons and local businesses are the most reliable NIL income.
Where Revenue-Sharing Money Goes
The House settlement let schools pay athletes directly, up to about $20.5 million per school in 2025-26, with the cap rising to $21.58 million in 2026-27. Front Office Sports reported Opendorse’s estimated split for the average school in the top 10 FBS conferences:
- Football: $13.1 million (63.8%)
- Men’s basketball: $4.3 million (20.9%)
- Women’s basketball: $1.6 million (8%)
- All other sports: $1.5 million (7.3%)
That last line covers baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and field, tennis, volleyball and more. Spread across those rosters, most individual shares are small or zero, though the report noted softball and volleyball were seeing notable growth.
Roster Limits Replaced Scholarship Limits
On June 23, 2025, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors removed sport-specific scholarship limits, effective July 1. Schools that opt into the settlement can now offer aid to any rostered athlete but must stay under roster caps. Current athletes who would have lost spots were protected as “designated student-athletes.”
Roster caps for spring sports under the settlement include 34 in baseball, 25 in softball, 48 in men’s lacrosse, 38 in women’s lacrosse, 45 in track and field and 10 in tennis. In theory, more spring athletes can receive aid; in practice, schools decide how much to fund, and scholarship money is not NIL income.
Real Spring Sports NIL Deals
The ceiling is real, even if few reach it.
- NiJaree Canady, softball, Texas Tech: signed a $1 million deal with the Matador Club after transferring from Stanford, then a second seven-figure package in June 2025, CBS Sports reported.
- Jac Caglianone, baseball, Florida: became one of the first college baseball players with an exclusive trading card and memorabilia deal in 2024.
- Hofstra men’s lacrosse: the entire roster signed a team-wide NIL deal in 2025.
- Katelyn Tuohy and Parker Valby, track and cross country: both signed shoe-brand NIL deals while still competing in college.
The pattern in spring sports NIL: outside collectives, the biggest spring-sport deals come from equipment brands, card makers and athletes with large audiences. For deeper dives, see our guides to college softball NIL, college baseball NIL and college lacrosse NIL earnings, plus the highest-paid college baseball NIL deals.
How Most Spring Athletes Earn
- Camps and clinics: NIL rules let athletes run paid camps under their own name, often during summer and winter breaks.
- Private lessons: pitching, hitting, sprint mechanics and tennis lessons offer steady hourly income.
- Local businesses: credit unions, restaurants and training facilities want recognizable local athletes.
- Gear and trading cards: equipment brands and card makers sign standout players.
- Social content: useful, but income varies widely with audience size and engagement.
One compliance note: third-party deals of $600 or more go through the College Sports Commission’s NIL Go review. Check with your compliance office before signing.
Why Spring Sports NIL Matters
Spring sports carry many of the athletes who later represent the U.S. internationally, from track and field to softball. With little revenue-sharing money reaching them, outside NIL is often the difference between paying for training and going without. The same is true in other overlooked sports, from college swimming to college wrestling.
FAQ
Do spring sports athletes get revenue sharing?
Some do, but little reaches them. Opendorse estimated all sports outside football and basketball shared about 7.3% of the average school’s 2025-26 revenue-sharing pool.
How do softball and baseball players earn NIL money?
Mostly through camps, private lessons, local businesses, gear and card deals and social content; a few stars sign large collective or brand deals.
What are the new roster limits for spring sports?
Under the settlement: baseball 34, softball 25, men’s lacrosse 48, women’s lacrosse 38, track and field 45 and tennis 10.
Do NIL deals need approval?
Deals of $600 or more from third parties are reviewed through NIL Go, and athletes should also follow their school’s disclosure rules.
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