NIL allows student-athletes to earn money by leveraging their personal brand. Through sponsorships, endorsements, appearances, and social media, Sycamores can partner with businesses and fans to promote products and services, while building valuable career experience.
Support through NIL means helping athletes grow their brand and connect with opportunities beyond the game.
Revenue sharing is direct financial support from the university to student-athletes. Beginning in July 2025, Indiana State University can allocate a portion of its athletic revenue to compensate athletes for their contributions to the success of Sycamore sports.
Support through revenue sharing helps ensure athletes are fairly rewarded for their impact on and off the field.
Your support allows Sycamore athletes to earn income from their name, image, and likeness, providing financial opportunities that were previously unavailable.
Managing donor funds can teach Sycamore athletes valuable skills in business, marketing, and financial management, preparing them for careers beyond athletics.
Your support can create more excitement and interest in college sports by allowing athletes to connect with fans and build personal brands within the community.
Every dollar invested directly impacts our athletes' ability to compete and succeed. It also incentivizes student athletes to stay in college longer.
Together, we can grow The Forest and make sure every Indiana State University athlete gets the recognition they deserve. Join the movement to uplift our Sycamore athletes—on and off the field.
CAN I MAKE A ONE-TIME PAYMENT VIA PAPER CHECK?
One-time contributions by check are welcome from individuals and businesses. Make checks payable to Crossroad of Champions and mail to: Crossroad of Champions, 30 North 5th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Include a memo if you’d like to designate your gift to a specific athletic program.
ARE CONTRIBUTIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
Yes! Crossroad of Champions has transitioned to operate under the Indiana State University Foundation, making contributions tax deductible as charitable donations. This change was made specifically to support the new revenue sharing era and benefit our donors and fans. Consult with a tax advisor to determine the full benefits for your specific situation. This is not legal or tax advice.
HOW CAN I PAUSE, CANCEL, OR CHANGE MY CONTRIBUTION?
First log in to your account page. There you will be able to make changes to your current contribution. If you have any further questions regarding your contribution, please contact us at crossroadofchampions@gmail.com.
ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS ON NIL DEALS?
Student-athletes may not engage in NIL deals involving alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, political ads, or anything contrary to Indiana State University values. All deals must include a clear exchange of value. Crossroad of Champions aims to create meaningful NIL opportunities that support athlete growth and foster unique supporter engagement.
IS CROSSROAD OF CHAMPIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY?
Crossroad of Champions operates under the Indiana State University Foundation, which allows contributions to be tax deductible and enables us to provide vital revenue share support to Indiana State University student-athletes. While we work closely with Indiana State University Athletics to support their goals in this new era of college athletics, we maintain our independence in facilitating NIL opportunities and managing donor relationships. This structure allows us to best serve both our supporters and Indiana State University student-athletes while operating within proper governance frameworks.
WHAT TYPES OF NIL OPPORTUNITIES DOES CROSSROAD OF CHAMPIONS HELP ACTIVATE?
Crossroad of Champions offers Indiana State University student-athletes near limitless opportunities to engage in NIL activations, including: autograph signings, social media promotions, camps and clinics, charity events, special appearances, commercials, and many more! These personalized engagement opportunities are what make NIL collectives unique—they provide the direct fan and business interactions that revenue sharing from the university cannot offer.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ATHLETE TRANSFERS OR LEAVES INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY?
While the NCAA does not allow NIL agreements to be predicated on a student-athlete's continued enrollment at a university, our agreements are limited in time and scope to provide protection for contributor funds in situations where a student-athlete transfers.
CAN I REQUEST OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH CERTAIN ATHLETES?
Yes—businesses and individuals can request specific NIL deals with athletes. Go to the Contact page to get started.
ARE ALL STUDENT-ATHLETE OPPORTUNITIES THE SAME?
No, contracts vary based on the specific athlete and the requirements of the contributor and/or activation. Each deal is individually negotiated and agreed upon by the student-athletes. While athletes may now receive base compensation through revenue sharing from the university, NIL deals through Crossroad of Champions remain individually tailored and provide additional earning opportunities beyond direct school payments. That being said, Crossroad of Champions seeks to provide equal opportunities for both male and female student-athletes.
HOW DOES REVENUE SHARING AFFECT NIL COLLECTIVES?
Revenue sharing complements NIL collectives like Crossroad of Champions rather than replacing them. Starting July 1, 2025, Indiana State University can now share revenue directly with student-athletes. Crossroad of Champions plays a vital role in supporting this new model by providing revenue share support to Indiana State student-athletes, while also continuing to facilitate traditional NIL opportunities like endorsements, appearances, and community engagement.
As Indiana State University Athletics has stated, our collective helps provide the resources necessary for the university to compete for conference and national championships in this new era.
CAN I SELECT WHAT SPORT MY CONTRIBUTIONS SUPPORT?
Yes, anyone who is a member of the collective can denote what sport and their respective student-athlete contributions will be earmarked for. Supporters can also contact us directly to set up activations with their favorite student-athlete(s).
WHAT IF I'M INTERESTED IN GIVING A LARGER CONTRIBUTION?
Individuals and businesses interested in giving larger contributions can do so via the "one-time contribution" link on the membership page. Once here you can select to make a "custom" contribution amount.
WHO GOVERNS NIL AND REVENUE SHARING?
The governance structure has evolved significantly with the new revenue sharing model:
Revenue Sharing Governance:
- The House v. NCAA settlement establishes the overall framework
- The Power Four conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) oversee enforcement through a new College Sports Commission (CSC)
- Individual universities like Indiana State University determine their own distribution policies within settlement guidelines
NIL Governance:
- Traditional NIL deals remain governed by NCAA rules and state laws
- An independent clearinghouse (Deloitte) now reviews third-party NIL deals for "fair market value" to ensure legitimacy
- Student athletes still cannot receive payments that are disguised "pay-for-play" inducements
For Indiana State Athletes:
- Indiana State University's athletic department manages revenue sharing distribution
- Crossroad of Champions operates under Indiana State University Foundation guidelines
- All NIL deals must still comply with university values and NCAA regulations
This multi-layered approach provides structure while giving schools flexibility in how they support their student-athletes.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVENUE SHARING AND NIL?HOW DOES REVENUE SHARING AFFECT NIL COLLECTIVES?
These are two separate ways athletes can now earn compensation:
Revenue Sharing:
Direct payments from Indiana State University to athletes, funded by the school's athletic department revenue (donations, TV deals, ticket sales, etc.). This is essentially base compensation that started July 1, 2025.
NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness):
Compensation from third parties like businesses, supporters, and collectives in exchange for specific services like autograph signings, social media posts, appearances, or endorsements. This is what Crossroad of Champions facilitates.
Athletes can benefit from both. Revenue sharing provides financial stability, while NIL deals through collectives like ours offer additional earning opportunities and meaningful community engagement.
WHEN DID THESE CHANGES START?
The new revenue sharing rules officially took effect on July 1, 2025, following court approval of the House v. NCAA settlement. Indiana State University can now directly compensate athletes while NIL opportunities through Crossroad of Champions continue as before. These changes work together to create more comprehensive support for our student-athletes.
ARE CONTRACTS WITH STUDENT-ATHLETES EXCLUSIVE?
No, contracts are not exclusive. We want all student-athletes to thrive under NIL and take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.
