1. Why has college athletics changed so dramatically?
College athletics has undergone a historic transformation driven by legal decisions, conference realignment, athlete advocacy, and market forces. These changes have shaped how programs build rosters, compensate student-athletes, and remain competitive.
Recent Milestones
2. What is revenue sharing?
Revenue sharing is a model where athletic department–generated revenues are shared directly with student-athletes beyond their traditional scholarships.
At Florida State:
Revenue sharing allows Florida State to:
3. How is revenue sharing different from endorsements (NIL)?
While both involve athlete compensation, they serve quite different purposes.
Revenue Sharing
Endorsements (NIL)
In short:
4. Do student athletes still have academic requirements?
Absolutely.
Student-athletes at Florida State:
Revenue sharing does not replace education, it enhances opportunity while maintaining accountability. Our mission remains unchanged:
Developing the whole student-athlete physically, mentally, morally, and academically.
5. What role does roster management play in this new model?
Roster management is now one of the most critical success factors in college football.
Florida State’s structure includes:
This professional model ensures:
6. How does Seminole Boosters fit into this new era?
Seminole Boosters remains the primary fundraising arm supporting Florida State Athletics.
In the revenue-sharing era:
Your support through Seminole Boosters is more impactful than ever.
7. What is the role of The Battle’s End?
The Battle’s End is Florida State’s primary collective, playing a critical role in strengthening the Seminoles’ competitive edge.
Its role includes:
While the Athletics Department focuses on revenue sharing and long‑term roster stability, The Battle’s End centers on opportunities that drive recruiting success. As a member of The Battle’s End, you make a direct investment in the future of FSU’s ability to compete at the highest level.
8. How do Florida State Athletics, Seminole Boosters, and The Battle’s End work together?
The relationship is collaborative, aligned, and purpose-driven:
Florida State Athletics
Seminole Boosters
The Battle’s End
Each entity has a distinct role, but all are aligned around one goal: Sustained excellence for Florida State Athletics.
9. Why does support matter more now than ever?
Now, more than ever
The landscape has evolved but Florida State’s purpose has not.
We remain committed to:
For more than 75 years, college athletics has evolved through periods of meaningful change, sometimes disruptive. From the establishment of modern governance and television rights, to landmark civil rights and equity legislation, to the expansion of postseason formats and athlete mobility, the system has never been static. Each era brought uncertainty, debate, and adjustment, as well as progress. What often felt uncomfortable in the moment ultimately strengthened opportunity, transparency, and long-term sustainability across college sports.
Today’s environment, defined by NIL, the Alston decision, and the House settlement introducing revenue sharing, is simply the latest chapter in that ongoing evolution.
While the changes underway are significant, history shows that college athletics does not arrive at a finished product overnight. Where we are today is not where we will be next year, and certainly not five years from now. Yet when we look back across decades, each major transformation moved the enterprise forward. This moment is no different. The challenge, and the opportunity, is to steward this transition with clarity, purpose, and a long-term view.
ERA 1: Governance & Control (1951–1971)
ERA 2: Equity & Access (1972–1983)
ERA 3: Commercialization & Media (1984–2013)
ERA 4: Athlete Rights & Mobility (2014–2020)
ERA 5: NIL & Market Forces (2021–2024)
ERA 6: Revenue Sharing & Structural Reset (2025– )
Every generation of college athletics has faced transformational change. This era is not the first and it will not be the last.