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ASU AD Graham Rossini confident in new age of college athletics following House settlement

Football and men's basketball to lead the way in revenue sharing, according to Rossini

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ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini speaking at a press conference at ASU's Walter Cronkite School on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Phoenix.

Three weeks have passed since the NCAA v. House ruling was reached, introducing revenue sharing in college sports. While being in a "Power Four" conference certainly helps ASU's case, challenges will still arise that Athletic Director Graham Rossini will have to overcome.

Although amateurism in college athletics continues to dwindle and changes are still on the horizon, Rossini believes the athletic department is prepared for whatever may come. 

Like most other schools, Rossini said the vast majority of the revenue share pie will go into football and men's basketball. Rossini does not plan to announce specific numbers or shares, but said it will be fluid, with those numbers changing when needed. 

With much of the money allocated to football and men's basketball, little is left for the smaller sports in the department. Rossini will be tasked with handling how to maximize value in each sport and will strive to keep all 26 ASU-affiliated teams afloat and competitive. 


ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini speaking at a press conference at ASU's Walter Cronkite School on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Phoenix.


"We're going to take on that challenge because we believe that there's a reason we have all 26 (teams) and we're going to give all these athletes the same opportunities that they're accustomed to," Rossini said.

With a successful first year in the Big 12 and a promising future, excitement around the department has grown tremendously over the last year. Volleyball had one of its best seasons, newly appointed head coach Molly Miller is bringing in a new age of Sun Devil women's hoops, and softball and baseball returned to the NCAA Tournament — and that's just the tip of the iceberg. 

READ MORE: 'Is it season yet?' ASU introduces women's basketball head coach Molly Miller

"We're very mindful that the high end sports like football and basketball are going to continue to be the benefactor of a lot of the rule changes, but that's why we're going to look for every unique opportunity at ASU to make sure that volleyball is progressing, and that softball is back in a national conversation and that women's basketball continues to ascend in the same way that we're seeing elsewhere in the country," Rossini said. 

To make sure these programs continue to progress and receive the revenue they deserve, Rossini called on the Valley to show up and support as much as they can.

"And so the call to action is to all Sun Devil fans who may love some of our Olympic sports," Rossini said. "Find a way to plug in, find a way to support this team."

The House settlement also requires athletes to disclose any Name, Image and Likeness deals they sign from third-party members over $600. Rossini mentioned that previous and current Sun Devils are already accustomed to reporting their NIL deals because of established University policies. It will operate a little differently now, but Rossini believes that familiarity will bridge that gap.

"There'll be a learning curve, as there would be with anything that changes, but I feel like we've been tracking on it for long enough to really help our athletes navigate the new tools that they'll be using," Rossini said.


ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini speaking at a press conference at ASU's Walter Cronkite School on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Phoenix.


Title IX wasn't directly mentioned in the House settlement, raising some questions of how revenue will be split between men's and women's sports. The court did not come to a conclusion on whether future compensation payments are subject to the Title IX regulations. Rossini said that universities will manage Title IX in the way they have historically. 

"It's very important to ASU," Rossini said. "It's been a big part of our decision-making process in terms of, we do have female sports that would be the recipient of the (revenue) share dollars."

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With so much of the revenue going into two of the 26 sports, there's a fear that there will be a sense of forgetfulness to all of the other student-athletes. Rossini ensured that wouldn't be the case and pushed current and future athletes to create their success stories.

"If you're a storyteller, come raise your hand," Rossini said. "Let's illuminate these incredible storylines all throughout our department. That's how we're going to make sure that our athletes aren't forgotten."

Edited by Henry Smardo, Senna James, Leah Mesquita and Sophia Braccio.


Reach the reporter at jkmccar2@asu.edu and follow @jackmccarthyasu on X.

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Jack McCarthySports Editor

Jack McCarthy is a senior studying sports journalism with a minor in business. This is his third semester with The State Press. He has also worked as a sports reporter.


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