Charles Barkley calls out college basketball, NIL landscape: 'I don't think that's a sustainable model'

As college sports prepares for the start of a new era, Charles Barkley is sounding the alarm. The Auburn legend spoke about the state of the game during the Tigers’ game against Ole Miss Wednesday night.

Barkley said the current landscape is not “sustainable” in its current state. As the revenue-sharing approaches, pending approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, he’s concerned about whether smaller universities will be able to keep up.

As part of the settlement agreement, schools will be able to share up to $20.5 million directly with athletes in 2025. Although he’s in favor of athletes getting their share, he also had concerns about the long-term impact of that figure.

“I think we have to have a talk about college basketball,” Barkley said on the ESPN broadcast. “I don’t think the model of the NIL is sustainable. Listen, I want all these kids to get whatever they can get. But asking colleges to come up with $20, $30 million a year – especially some of the smaller schools – I don’t think that’s a sustainable model.”

Revenue-sharing would be the latest change coming to college athletics since the start of the NIL era. Schools are tasked with dividing that $20.5 million, and most schools are planning to distribute between 75% to 85% with football, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. Georgia also confirmed it plans to share $2.7 million with men’s basketball.

But Charles Barkley also pointed out the impact of an education included in scholarships for athletes. He also called out the rising cost of tuition along with reiterating his desire find a way for the smaller schools to keep up.

“I love these kids,” Barkley said. “I want them to do well. But you’ve got to understand, I tell people, most of these kids are going to get a free education, which is by far and away the most important thing because one of the great travesties of this country is what we’re charging kids to go to college. We need to find a way to make sure the smaller schools can compete.”

The House v. NCAA settlement received preliminary approval in October 2024, and the motion for final approval is set for March 3. A hearing for final approval is set for April 7, which will be held both remotely and in-person.

NCAA president Charlie Baker and others also continue to lobby for help at the Congressional level in the landscape. A hearing has been called for March 4 on Capitol Hill regarding NIL.