Dallas Baptist University, with only one Division I sport, made the decision to participate in revenue sharing
Dallas Baptist University (DBU) Embraces New Era of College Sports Revenue-Sharing
Dallas Baptist University (DBU) is set to join a significant shift in the landscape of college sports, as the institution has committed to the new revenue-sharing model that will be implemented starting from the 2025-26 academic year. This move comes as part of a landmark $2.57 billion settlement in the House v. NCAA case, which will allow Division I schools to share up to 22% of their average athletics revenue with student-athletes.
Unlike Power Five conference schools, which automatically opted into this new model due to their involvement in the lawsuit, DBU is one of nine schools that primarily compete at lower levels of college sports but have chosen to opt into the new revenue-sharing model. This decision will allow DBU to share a portion of its revenues directly with athletes, a major shift from the traditional compensation methods.
DBU's total revenues for the previous year were reportedly $150 million, according to public tax filings. While the exact amount that will be allocated to student-athletes under the new model is yet to be determined, it is expected that DBU baseball players will benefit significantly from this change.
The DBU baseball program, which anchors the school's athletic department and serves as an attention- and credibility-driver for the entire university, has seen remarkable success in recent years. The team has won two NCAA regional championships and has seen more than 50 players selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. DBU baseball has made the NCAA tournament in each of the last 10 seasons, a testament to the team's consistent performance.
To maximize revenue in various areas, DBU's athletic department has hired a person dedicated to fundraising from corporate sponsors and annual donors. This move is expected to boost the department's revenue, allowing for more funds to be allocated to the baseball team and other athletic programs.
Under the new rules, DBU baseball will be able to go beyond the 11.7 scholarships NCAA baseball programs were previously limited to. This means that the university will be able to offer more opportunities to promising student-athletes, further strengthening its competitive edge in college baseball.
DBU is not alone in its pursuit of revenue growth. The University of Texas athletic department generated $332 million in revenues by itself, and other schools are expected to follow suit in their efforts to adapt to the changing landscape of college sports.
However, it's important to note that DBU has slimmed down elsewhere, with men's and women's tennis transitioning to club sport status beginning in 2025-26. This decision reflects DBU's commitment to focusing resources on its most successful and high-profile athletic programs, such as baseball.
DBU prides itself on competing and attracting and developing players based on its faith-based mission. As the university embraces the new revenue-sharing model, it remains committed to upholding its values and providing a nurturing environment for student-athletes to grow both athletically and spiritually.
[1] NCAA revenue-sharing model explained [2] Nebraska-Omaha opts out of NCAA revenue-sharing model [3] How the NCAA's new name, image, and likeness rules will work [4] Deloitte to oversee NCAA name, image, and likeness deals
- Dallas Baptist University, being keen on education-and-self-development, intends to utilize the share of revenue from the new revenue-sharing model not only for athletic programs like sports such as baseball, but also for supporting the spiritual growth and academic pursuits of its student-athletes.
- Despite the shift towards revenue-sharing, Dallas Baptist University remains steadfast in its commitment to learning, as it continues to educate its students both on and off the field, following the university's faith-based mission.
