All schools in the MAC conference are participating in revenue sharing, but at significantly reduced levels.

Based on available data, mid-major schools are likely sharing:

• MAC schools: $5M-$10M annually
• Sun Belt: $8M-$12M annually
• Mountain West: $7M-$12M annually

Per athlete estimates:

• Football starter at mid-major: $30K-$60K
• Men's basketball starter at mid-major: $40K-$80K
• Women's basketball starter at mid-major: $35K-$70K

The Gap: A starter at a Power 5 might receive $100K in revenue sharing vs. $50K at a mid-major.

That's a $50K annual difference. Significant, right?

Now let's see what happens when we factor in everything else.

The Cost of Living Factor: Where Your Money Goes Matters More Than How Much You Make

Here's what nobody talks about: a dollar in Austin, Texas doesn't buy what a dollar in Kalamazoo, Michigan buys.

Let's compare two real scenarios:

Scenario A: Power 5

• School: University of Texas (Austin)
• Revenue Share: $100,000
• NIL Income: $20,000
• Gross Income: $120,000

Monthly Expenses in Austin:

• Off-campus apartment: $1,800/month
• Food: $800/month
• Transportation (car payment, insurance, gas): $600/month
• Entertainment/lifestyle: $500/month
• Total: $3,700/month = $44,400/year

After Taxes (Texas has no state income tax, but ~25% federal):

• Take-home: ~$90,000
• After expenses: $45,600 remaining

Scenario B: Mid-Major

• School: Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo)
• Revenue Share: $50,000
• NIL Income: $30,000 (more on why this is higher below)
• Gross Income: $80,000

Monthly Expenses in Kalamazoo:

• Off-campus apartment: $900/month
• Food: $500/month
• Transportation: $500/month
• Entertainment/lifestyle: $300/month
• Total: $2,200/month = $26,400/year

After Taxes (Michigan: 4.25% state tax + ~22% federal):

• Take-home: ~$58,000
• After expenses: $31,600 remaining

The Surprising Result:

Despite earning $40K more gross income at the Power 5 school, the athlete at Texas only nets $14K more after accounting for cost of living.

And we haven't even factored in the NIL earning potential difference yet.

Why Being a Mid-Major Starter Can Generate More NIL Than Riding the Power 5 Bench

Here's the counterintuitive truth: your NIL value isn't primarily determined by your school's brand, it's determined by YOUR visibility and marketability.

The Playing Time Multiplier:

At a Power 5 school:

• 85 scholarship football players
• 13 scholarship basketball players
• Intense competition for playing time
• Star players get most NIL opportunities
• Bench players get minimal deals

At a mid-major:

• Smaller rosters (especially now with new roster caps)
• If you're good enough to transfer to Power 5, you're likely a STAR at mid-major
• More playing time = more visibility = more NIL opportunities
• Easier to be "the face" of the program

Real World Example:

Ball State women's basketball made a historic run to the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Ole Miss in the first round. On a revenue scale, Ole Miss brings in much more money as a program and can offer many more NIL deals than a school like Ball State.

But here's what matters: the STARTING guard at Ball State likely has better local NIL opportunities than the 8th man on Ole Miss's bench.

Local NIL Opportunities at Mid-Majors:

Mid-major athletes often dominate local markets because:

• Less competition from teammates
• Local businesses want to support their team
• You're the biggest athlete in town
• Easier to build personal brand with consistent playing time

Example NIL deals for mid-major starters:

• Local car dealership: $15K/year
• Regional bank: $10K/year
• Local restaurants/businesses: $5K total
• Social media partnerships: $5-10K
• Camps and clinics: $5K
• Total: $40K-$50K in NIL

Compare to bench player at Power 5:

• Maybe one small local business deal: $5K
• Limited social media reach (no playing time)
• Can't run camps effectively (not known)
• Total: $5K-$10K in NIL

The math:

• Mid-major starter: $50K revenue share + $40K NIL = $90K
• Power 5 bench: $100K revenue share + $8K NIL = $108K

The "double the money" narrative collapses when you're not actually playing.

The Transfer Portal Gold Rush: Mid-Major Players Being Poached

Here's what's happening right now across college athletics:

When a starting wide receiver in the American makes $15,000 and hears from a Power Four program offering $75,000, the leverage disappears quickly.

Power 5 programs are raiding mid-majors through the transfer portal, offering massive revenue share increases to proven players.

But consider what you're giving up:

• Established role and playing time
• Built NIL relationships in local market
• Team chemistry and system familiarity
• Academic progress (credits don't always transfer cleanly)
• Guaranteed scholarship (now you're competing again)

The Hidden Costs of Transferring:

1. Lost NIL Deals That Don't Transfer Your local car dealership deal? Gone. They sponsored you because you played for THEIR local team.
2. Restart Your Brand Building You're unknown in the new market. Building local NIL takes time.
3. Playing Time Not Guaranteed You're now competing with other transfers and recruits for minutes.
4. Academic Complications Credits may not transfer, extending time to graduation.
5. Moving Costs New apartment deposit, moving expenses, storage, easily $3K-$5K.

State Tax Implications: The Silent Wealth Killer

This is huge and almost never discussed.

Let's compare the same $100K income in different states:

No State Income Tax States:

• Texas: $0 state tax
• Florida: $0 state tax
• Tennessee: $0 state tax
• Washington: $0 state tax

High State Income Tax States:

• California: ~9-13% state tax on this income
• New York: ~6-9% state tax
• Oregon: ~9% state tax
• Minnesota: ~7-9% state tax

Real Example:

$100K income in Texas:

• Federal tax: ~$22K
• State tax: $0
• Take-home: $78K

$100K income in California:

• Federal tax: ~$22K
• State tax: ~$10K
• Take-home: $68K

That's a $10K difference just based on which state your school is in.

A mid-major in Texas or Florida with $80K income might take home MORE than a Power 5 in California with $100K income.

Scholarship Expansion: The Mid-Major Advantage

Here's where mid-majors got a huge boost from the House settlement:

No more NCAA-imposed scholarship caps; schools will use roster limits instead.

Previously:

• Football had 85 scholarship limit
• Baseball had 11.7 scholarships (yes, fractional)
• Many sports had partial scholarships

Now:

• Roster limits instead of scholarship limits
• Schools can offer full scholarships to entire roster
• Mid-majors can now compete on scholarship offers

What This Means:

Mid-major schools that previously offered you a 50% scholarship can now offer you a FULL scholarship, closing the gap with Power 5 programs.

The financial equation:

• Power 5: $100K revenue share + full scholarship ($60K value) = $160K
• Mid-major: $50K revenue share + full scholarship ($40K value) = $90K

But factor in:

• Mid-major lower cost of living: +$10K effective value
• Mid-major higher NIL (starter vs bench): +$30K
• Mid-major tax advantages (if applicable): +$5K

Adjusted comparison:

• Power 5: $160K - high expenses - taxes = $120K effective value
• Mid-major: $90K + advantages = $135K effective value

The gap isn't nearly as large as the headline numbers suggest.

The Financial Calculator: What's Actually More Valuable?

Let's run a comprehensive comparison using two real scenarios:

OPTION A: Power 5 Bench Player

• School: University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
• Revenue Share: $100,000
• NIL Income: $10,000 (limited playing time)
• Scholarship: $65,000 (tuition, room, board)
• Gross Value: $175,000

Expenses & Taxes:

• Federal tax (~25%): -$27,500
• California state tax (~10%): -$11,000
• Monthly living expenses ($3,500 x 12): -$42,000
• Net Take-Home: $94,500

Intangibles:

• Playing time: 10 minutes/game
• Social media growth: Limited
• Pro prospects visibility: Medium
• Stress level: High (competing for minutes)

OPTION B: Mid-Major Star

• School: Toledo University (Toledo, OH)
• Revenue Share: $55,000
• NIL Income: $35,000 (starter, local market dominance)
• Scholarship: $45,000
• Gross Value: $135,000

Expenses & Taxes:

• Federal tax (~22%): -$19,800
• Ohio state tax (~4%): -$3,600
• Monthly living expenses ($2,200 x 12): -$26,400
• Net Take-Home: $85,200

Intangibles:

• Playing time: 32 minutes/game
• Social media growth: Rapid (you're the star)
• Pro prospects visibility: High (film shows you dominating)
• Stress level: Medium (established role)

The Verdict:

Option A nets you $9,300 more annually.

But Option B gives you:

• 3x more playing time
• Better pro prospect development
• Stronger personal brand
• Less competition stress
• More visibility on film

For a mid-major star considering Power 5 transfer: You'd be taking only a $9K actual benefit to give up being a star. Is that worth it?

Long-Term Career Prospects: Exposure vs. Development

Here's the final consideration: what gives you the best chance at a professional career?

The Exposure Argument (Power 5):

• National TV games
• ESPN highlights
• Recruiting rankings boost
• "Power 5" on your resume

The Development Argument (Mid-Major):

• Extensive playing time = skill development
• Game film shows you dominating (not sitting)
• Chance to be THE guy (leadership development)
• More opportunities to showcase full skill set

What Pro Scouts Actually Say:

Professional scouts care about:

1. Can you play? (shown through film)
2. Are you coachable? (shown through improvement)
3. Can you handle competition? (shown at any level)

They DO NOT care whether you sat the bench at Duke or started at Toledo.

Recent Examples:

• Malcolm Brogdon: Virginia Commonwealth (mid-major) → NBA starter, Rookie of the Year
• Damian Lillard: Weber State (mid-major) → NBA All-Star
• Steph Curry: Davidson (mid-major) → NBA MVP

All three could have transferred to Power 5 programs. None did. All thrived.

The common thread? They PLAYED. They developed. They dominated their level.

Conference Realignment: The Wild Card

Here's the uncertainty factor: Given the upheaval within college athletics over the past few years, athletics conferences have essentially played hot potato with each other's member programs.

Mid-major conferences are in flux:

• Northern Illinois set to depart the MAC in 2026
• Rumors of other schools exploring moves
• Possible conference consolidation

What this means for you:

• Your mid-major school might move to a better conference
• Your mid-major might fold/merge
• The financial landscape could shift dramatically

The Risk: Choosing a mid-major that collapses athletically in 2-3 years.

The Opportunity: Choosing a mid-major positioned for growth.

Due diligence required: research your school's athletic department finances and conference stability before committing.

The Bottom Line: Do the Math for YOUR Situation

Here's what this all comes down to:

Choose Power 5 if:

• You're confident you'll get significant playing time
• The revenue share difference is $75K+ after factoring in cost of living and taxes
• National exposure is critical for your sport/position
• You have limited NIL earning potential at mid-major
• The school is in a no-tax state with reasonable cost of living

Choose Mid-Major if:

• You'll be a star with 25+ minutes/game
• You have strong local NIL opportunities established
• The total compensation gap is less than $25K after all factors
• You value playing time over prestige
• The mid-major is in a low-tax, low-cost-of-living location
• You want to develop skills rather than ride the bench

Your Action Plan:

1. Calculate actual take-home pay → Factor in taxes and cost of living, not just gross income
2. Evaluate NIL earning potential → Be honest about whether you'll start or sit at Power 5
3. Consider tax implications → State taxes can cost you $10K+ per year
4. Assess playing time guarantees → Get it in writing if possible
5. Research conference stability → Don't choose a sinking ship
6. Think long-term → What gives you the best pro prospects?
7. Run your own numbers → Every situation is different

The "follow the money to Power 5" narrative is too simplistic. When you account for cost of living, taxes, NIL earning potential based on playing time, and long-term development, many mid-major situations offer better ACTUAL value than Power 5 bench roles.

Don't just follow the headlines. Do the math.

Because at the end of the day, it's not about how much they OFFER you—it's about how much you actually KEEP and what opportunities you actually GET.

Ready to Make the Right Financial Decision?

At Courtside Wealth Partners, we help athletes evaluate scholarship offers, NIL deals, and revenue sharing packages to determine which opportunity actually provides the best financial outcome. We run the numbers, factor in taxes and cost of living, and help you make informed decisions about your future.

Schedule a consultation with Courtside Wealth Partners today and let's build a financial model for YOUR specific situation.