Big Ten, Big 12 Launch Athlete Pay with PayPal

The Big Ten and Big 12 conferences have partnered with PayPal and its subsidiary Venmo to enable direct compensation payments to student-athletes, following the House v. NCAA settlement. Starting July 1, universities can distribute up to $20.5 million per year to current athletes and $2.8 billion has been allocated for former athletes, all through PayPal's secure platform. This initiative marks a shift away from NIL collectives and sponsorships, allowing schools to compensate athletes directly for their name, image, and likeness rights. The Big 12's partnership is valued at nearly $100 million over five years, and Venmo will assume prominent sponsorship roles at conference events. PayPal will also become a preferred method for tuition payments at select schools beginning in 2026. Conference and PayPal leaders describe the deal as a major step in modernizing and securing athlete compensation.