In this new era of college sports, the Name Image and Likeness era, schools have put together NIL collectives. Funded by boosters, these collectives allow schools to convince players to play for them. Thanks to this, budgets for college basketball have increased, and the Big East, in particular, stands to benefit the most.
The Non-Football League Will Have More Money to Work With Starting in 2025
According to the website On3, the Big East can allocate more money to NIL collectives for its basketball programs. With the exception of UConn, none of the 10 other schools in the conference field an FBS football team, and seven of those schools don’t field any football team at the D1 level.
With the addition of revenue-sharing money, Big East schools can court higher budgets for their basketball teams than other power conferences.
NEW: The Big East is positioned to win with revenue sharing💵
Schools in the conference look to spend $8M for next year’s roster, @PeteNakos_ reports📈
Intel: https://t.co/6pubvMtaiT pic.twitter.com/dO2ccQeyC5
— On3 (@On3sports) March 27, 2025
“Most schools in the SEC and Big Ten will disperse $2 to $3 million to basketball, with the majority of [NIL] dollars going to football,” wrote On3’s Pete Nakos. “Sources have told On3 that UConn’s budget could touch $7 million for next year’s roster — a mix of revenue sharing and NIL dollars.”
Nakos’ article went on to mention that other Big East schools like Xavier and Butler will plan to spend or have already spent close to $5 million to construct their basketball rosters.
This is undoubtedly a boon for the Big East, which can now dish out money that other schools in other conferences would put toward football.
This Budget Increase Can Affect the CBB Coaching Carousel
Current Maryland head coach Kevin Willard has made headlines recently with his critiques on UMD’s NIL department and on the system altogether. On March 20, he voiced his regret about not being able to stay in New York to celebrate the winter holidays with his team.
“I was told that we can’t do that because it’s too expensive,” Willard said during a press conference before UMD’s opening round match-up with Grand Canyon. “So I don’t know how we can be a top-tier program, and I can’t spend one extra night in New York because it’s too expensive.”
Later in the week, before the Terrapins’ Sweet 16 game against top-seeded Florida, Willard went on WTEM 980 in DC and complained more about how NIL has changed the landscape of sports.
KEEP READING: Top 10 NIL Deals in Men’s College Basketball
“The transfer portal is crazy. There are kids asking for $2-3 million right now. The money has exploded crazy because we have no guardrails,” Willard said, and later tweeted by John Fanta. “It’s been as badly of a rule implemented as ever. And agents are taking advantage of it.”
Because of Willard’s recent comments and an unsigned contract extension, rumors have spread that he wants to leave. One possible landing spot has been Villanova, a Big East school that recently fired its head coach. If money is an issue for Willard at Maryland, perhaps it won’t be as big of an issue at Villanova.
Willard has since claimed he has no intention to leave Maryland.
The Big East might not have any teams in the Sweet 16 this year, but with increased basketball budgets and little to no football to siphon any of that money, it’s possible that the conference will become a hotbed for the sport, just like it was back in the ’80s.
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