That question is no longer hypothetical. As of July 1, 2025, the NCAA’s new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) settlement will take effect—allowing schools to directly compensate athletes for the first time in history. Under the House v. NCAA settlement, each Division I institution can now share up to $20.5 million annually with its athletes. And while that sounds like a win for college sports, it comes with a cost—especially for mid-major softball programs already operating on tight budgets.
This blog explores how the NIL era is impacting the balance of power in college softball, what’s at stake for mid-major programs, and what strategies they can use to survive—and even thrive—in this new reality.
The NIL Era Has Arrived—And It’s Reshaping Everything
The NCAA’s House v. NCAA settlement is more than a rule change—it’s a structural overhaul of college sports economics.
According to ESPN, each Division I school will be permitted to distribute up to $20.5 million annually to athletes, in addition to any third-party NIL deals already in place. While this gives athletes long-overdue financial recognition, it also supercharges the recruiting arms race.
The biggest winners? Power 4 programs—with massive athletic budgets, booster networks, and brand leverage to offer top recruits not just a scholarship, but a paycheck.
Mid-Majors Are Facing an Uphill Financial Battle
Unlike their Power 4 counterparts, mid-major programs operate with a fraction of the resources.
For example, according to USA Today’s 2023 NCAA Athletics Finance database:
- Ohio State’s athletic department budget: ~$251 million
- Ball State’s athletic department budget: ~$33 million
That’s a 7x difference, and under the new revenue-sharing model, that gap becomes a chasm.
The result? Mid-majors are struggling to:
- Match compensation offers during recruiting
- Retain top talent lured away by better NIL packages
- Keep entire programs afloat
This isn’t just theoretical. Schools like Purdue Fort Wayne recently cut both their softball and baseball programs, citing budget constraints and the anticipated costs of NIL revenue sharing (ESPN).
Softball’s Slice of the NIL Pie Is Shockingly Small
While football and men’s basketball dominate NIL conversations, softball is barely on the board.
According to data from NIL-NCAA, softball athletes at Power Conference schools are projected to receive:
- $3,632 per softball athlete, per year
This number is expected to be even lower or nonexistent at mid-major institutions.
When the bulk of NIL funding is concentrated in two or three sports, it limits the ability of Olympic and non-revenue sports—like softball—to remain competitive, funded, or even viable at the college level.
The Growing Competitive Gap in College Softball
Recruiting in the NIL era is no longer just about facilities, tradition, or playing time. It’s about compensation.
Top-tier athletes are now:
- Seeking schools with the strongest NIL ecosystems
- Using NIL packages as a tie-breaker between offers
- Transferring to higher-paying programs via the portal
This is creating a widening talent gap. Power 4 programs stockpile elite athletes, while mid-majors often lose their top performers after one breakout season.
The result? Fewer Cinderella stories. Fewer competitive underdog runs. A college softball landscape that looks more like a corporate hierarchy than a level playing field.
4 Survival Strategies for Mid-Major Softball Programs
While the challenges are real, mid-major programs aren’t powerless. Here are four strategies to stay competitive:
1. Focus on Player Development
- Highlight elite coaching and individualized growth.
- Promote athlete progression stories: “From Underrated to Unstoppable.”
- Emphasize metrics, training tech, and pro-style development plans.
2. Build Local NIL Partnerships
- Collaborate with small businesses and local brands.
- Promote social impact and community-rooted stories.
- Use athlete influence in local markets as a unique selling point.
3. Highlight Academic Excellence
- Emphasize graduation rates, academic honors, and post-college success.
- Market softball as a path to elite degrees—not just elite athleticism.
4. Explore Alternative Funding Sources
- Launch crowdfunding campaigns and alumni booster drives.
- Pursue grant funding or partnerships with women-in-sports initiatives.
- Offer “sponsor-a-player” programs for community donors.
Why This Matters—Beyond the Schools
This isn’t just a mid-major issue. It’s a softball community issue.
- When programs get cut, athletes lose dreams.
- When competitive balance fades, the game loses its magic.
- When funding is funneled to only the top 2–3 sports, we lose the diversity of college athletics.
If softball continues to fall further behind in funding and visibility, it risks being relegated to the sidelines of college sports—a heartbreaking loss for the thousands of athletes, families, and fans who fuel this sport with passion and purpose.
Conclusion: What’s Next for Mid-Major Softball?
The NIL era is here, and it’s not going away. For mid-major softball programs, this shift is a challenge—but it’s also a chance to evolve, unify, and innovate.
From strengthening local support networks to redefining what value looks like in recruiting, there are ways for programs to not just survive, but stand out in this new landscape.
At Around the Dirt, we’re committed to spotlighting the stories that matter—the ones built on grit, community, and love for the game. The ones you won’t always see on ESPN, but deserve to be heard just the same.
What role do you think NIL should play in shaping the future of college softball?
We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments—whether you're a coach, player, parent, or fan. Let’s start the conversation and work together to protect what makes this game great.
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