House Settlement Provides Level NIL Playing Field in SEC, Says Arkansas Coach

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month has leveled the college football playing field in a good way.

Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other SEC powers like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Pittman said at SEC media days that his program had previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against schools with more established name, image and likeness collectives since NIL payments began in 2022.

According to the terms of the House settlement, each school can now share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes.

"Financially, with revenue sharing, I think we are finally back on [an] even keel with everybody, which we weren't," said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. "If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven’t done quite as well. ... But I think now with it being even, look out, the Razorbacks are coming."

Pittman and most other coaches brought seniors and graduate players to represent their teams at SEC media days, which concluded Thursday. Pittman brought two 2021 recruits and a transfer, but Arkansas could have difficulty finding seniors next year from his original 2022 signing class because many members of that class have transferred.

Pittman, whose Razorbacks have earned bowl bids in four of his five seasons, said players have different reasons for transferring but that many were lured away from Arkansas by more attractive NIL packages at other schools. When asked about the 2022 class, Pittman said, "Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught."

"That’s not the reason. It could be playing