Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud says Big Ten's massive TV deal should be shared with players

The Big Ten announced a massive $7 billion rights agreement with CBS, NBC, and FOX on Thursday and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud says he and the other players in the conference deserve a piece.

"I definitely think it should be shared," Stroud said, via USA Today. "But if not, at the end of the day, we have the NIL space. We can do it that way. The new college world is turning around, and I'm here for it."

The idea of sharing that revenue with student-athletes may not be that far-fetched either. Last month, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren didn't dismiss the notion when talking to reporters.

"I've already started some dialogue with our student-athletes," Warren said at the conference media days. "I want to be a great listener to figure out what is important to them. It's so easy to talk about money and share money, but what does that really mean? I want to make sure that I listen and learn to be able to have big ears and a small mouth to truly understand what's important to them."

Name, image and likeness (NIL) deals have provided a pathway for athletes to profit from their abilities, but a formal agreement between conference and players would be a first.

Stroud, 20, was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2021 and finished his sophomore year with 44 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has since parlayed that success into several NIL deals.