ATLANTA — Sam Pittman says a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that went into effect this month levels the college football playing field in a good way for his Arkansas team.
Pittman said Arkansas now has a chance to compete on more even terms with other Southeastern Conference powers like Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. Pittman said Thursday at SEC media days that his program had previously dealt with a financial disadvantage against the 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 now can share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes.
“Financially with revenue sharing I think we are finally back on even keel with everybody, which we weren’t,” said Pittman, whose team finished 7-6 in 2024. “If I were going to make an excuse, it would be financially, that’s 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 on 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 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 time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances.”
The House settlement era began on July 1.
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