How BYU Plans to Distribute $20.5 Revenue Share After House Settlement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeff Hauser | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 1:16 PM ET

Newly appointed BYU athletic director Brian Santiago sees the recently approved House v. NCAA settlement not as a challenge, but as a strategic advantage for the Cougars going forward.

In a Tuesday appearance on BYUtv’s “BYU Sports Nation,” Santiago said the landmark agreement which allows schools to directly pay student-athletes aligns well with BYU’s values and long-term vision. “This actually shifts the power of college athletics back to the universities,” Santiago said. “For us at BYU, we think it’s a strategic advantage." He added it "kind of evens the playing field."

The settlement that was approved last week by Judge Claudia Wilken, goes into effect July 1. The schools who opt in can distribute up to $20.5 million annually in shared revenue.

Santiago explained that BYU will prioritize investing in student-athletes who align with the school’s mission. While he did not specify how much BYU will allocate in year one, he stressed the athletic department’s commitment to being “very competitive in the space.”

The revenue distribution will largely benefit football and men’s basketball, which Santiago called “the ship” that drives the rest of the department. However, he added that all 19 Cougar programs will feel the impact.

“We’re going to invest in all of our sports,” Santiago said. “We want all of our student-athletes to feel the impact.. and chase their dreams.”

Santiago also praised the introduction of the NIL Go clearinghouse, which will ensure third-party endorsement deals reflect fair market value. It's a move he believes brings much-needed structure to what was previously “the wild, wild west.”

Despite BYU’s limited exposure to the $2.8 billion in NCAA back pay, given the schools' recent realignment to the Big 12, Santiago welcomed the broader shift in college athletics.

“It takes a shift away from the money back to where it should be,” Santiago said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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