Show Me the Money Phase Begins

The revenue-sharing chaos has begun as five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo commits to Texas Tech for a $5.1 M deal

July 7, 2025

Revenue-Sharing Chaos Begins as Texas Tech Secures Five-Star OT
FOS’ Colin Salao writes, “Less than a week has passed since NCAA Division I schools were able to directly pay players—and the chaos has already started. ESPN reported Friday that five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo committed to Texas Tech over football powerhouses Texas, Ohio State, Michigan, and Florida. Ojo reportedly received a fully guaranteed deal worth $5.1 million over three years. Derrick Shelby, Ojo’s agent, informed ESPN of the figures.
^{Front Office Sports}

Report: Rising NBA Valuations Could Entice Thunder Owners to Sell
The rising value of NBA franchises makes it “quite likely” that the Thunder’s partners and Chair Clay Bennett “will want to sell soon,” according to sources cited by Berry Tramel of the TULSA WORLD. There is one fewer reason for the ownership group to retain the franchise. Apart from bringing an NBA franchise to their home state, the owners have “achieved the ultimate goal,” winning the O’Brien Trophy.
^{Tulsa World via Sports Business Journal}

Rogers Execs on What’s Next for Their $10B+ in Sports Assets
Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen reports: “Rogers Communications solidified itself as a sports ownership powerhouse Wednesday when it finalized the purchase of BCE’s 37.5% stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the parent of three franchises from major North American leagues.

“In their first interview since the deal closed at CA$4.7 billion ($3.45 billion based on current exchange rates), Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri and executive chairman Edward Rogers broke down the advantages of bumping the company’s stake in MLSE to 75% and provided a roadmap on what’s next for its sports properties, which now include control of the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto FC in addition to the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Argonauts.”
^Sportico

Caitlin Clark Calls Out Commissioner’s Cup vs. WNBA Finals Payout Disparity
Caitlin Clark called out the “desire for better pay for the league’s athletes,” noting the “disparity in the financial rewards” for winning the Commissioner’s Cup vs. the WNBA Finals during the Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup celebrations, according to FIELD LEVEL MEDIA via SBJ. During a postgame celebration on Instagram livestream, Clark said, “You get more (money) for this than you do if you’re the (WNBA Finals) champion. It makes no sense. Someone tell (WNBA commissioner) Cathy (Engelbert) to help us out.”
^{Field Level Media via Sports Business Journal}

Study: Nine in 10 Sports Fans Are Streaming Sports
The study highlights the shift from cable and broadcast TV, with 45% of respondents saying they watch live sports more often on streaming than a year ago. While mostly driven by younger audiences (63% Gen Z and 56% Millennials), 35% of Gen X’ers and 21% of Boomers also upped their sports streaming time.

Amazon, whose rights include the likes of “Thursday Night Football,” the WNBA and NASCAR, is by far the most used at 65%, followed by ESPN+ with 39%, then Peacock and Paramount+ at 37% and 32% respectively. Virtual MVPDs followed, with Apple TV+ (which has some MLB rights and MLS) came in at 17%.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Dortmund Coach Niko Kovač Says MetLife Stadium Field More Suited to Golf Than to Soccer
“It’s more a golf green, so you can putt here,” Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač said after a 3-2 quarterfinal loss to Real Madrid on Saturday. “It’s very short. But this is not the grass we are used to playing on in the Bundesliga and also in the other two stadiums.”

Dortmund played its opening group match at MetLife, the site of the Club World Cup semifinals and championship, and of next year’s World Cup final.
^{AP News}

Buster Posey Bet Big on Rafael Devers. It’s Been a Slow Start.
Sportico’s Barry M. Bloom writes, “The Rafael Devers era in San Francisco hasn’t opened with a big bang. The Giants entered June 14 tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The next day, they stunned the baseball world by trading for the Boston Red Sox slugger. But since the big move, the Giants have gone 5-11 and plummeted in the standings, where they now sit eight games back of LA.”
^Sportico

Two NCAA Execs Announce Retirement
NCAA SVP/Policy & Governance Kevin Lennon announced his retirement yesterday, effective Aug. 29. He is the longest-tenured national office employee, beginning his career with the NCAA in April 1986. He serves as strategic advisor to NCAA President Charlie Baker and leads the development of key policy initiatives to advance college sports and improve the lives of student-athletes. In addition, NCAA VP/Academic & Membership Affairs Dave Schnase also announced his retirement. Schnase has served as VP since his appointment in September 2015 and, most recently, has focused his time and attention on issues related to the House settlement.
^{Sports Business Journal}

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Oklahoma State Inks Deal With NOCAP Revenue Solutions
The Oklahoma State athletic department has partnered with NOCAP Revenue Solutions in a deal designed to “generate revenue for the university while also helping businesses that support OSU athletics.” NOCAP Revenue Solutions works with athletic departments “to connect them with businesses -- or to offer services to those with existing relationships with the school -- to provide cost-saving methods in a variety of business-to-business operations, like credit card processing, payroll management and others.”
^{Oklahoman via Sports Business Journal}

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