PayPal & College Athletes: Big Ten, Big 12 Deal
PayPal steps onto the college sports field, partnering with the Big Ten and Big 12 to revolutionize student-athlete payments.This landmark deal, following the house v. NCAA settlement,will see PayPalS technology streamline compensation for athletes,ensuring faster,more efficient transactions. Venmo, a PayPal subsidiary, will also boost its presence, acting as the presenting partner for the Big Ten Rivalry Series and partner of the Big 12 Conference.the partnership will introduce conference-branded debit cards and integrate into campus life. News Directory 3 brings you the breaking details. With the rollout planned for this summer, what does this mean for college athletics? Discover what’s next …
PayPal to Streamline Student-Athlete Payments for Big Ten, Big 12
Updated June 26, 2025
PayPal is entering college athletics, partnering with the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences to manage student-athlete compensation. The multi-year agreements will modernize how universities distribute payments, leveraging PayPal’s technology for secure and efficient transactions.
This move follows the recent house v. NCAA settlement, a landmark decision permitting schools to directly compensate athletes. The settlement allows institutions to allocate up to $20.5 million annually to current athletes and provides billions in compensation to former NCAA players.
The payment service app, Venmo, a PayPal subsidiary, will also expand its presence in college sports. Venmo will be the presenting partner for the inaugural Big Ten Rivalry Series and an official partner of the Big 12 Conference. Furthermore, Venmo aims to integrate with college bookstores and athletic programs, facilitating payments for tickets, concessions, and merchandise.
The initial rollout of the PayPal payment system is slated for this summer, coinciding with the House settlement taking effect July 1. The agreement also includes the introduction of conference-branded debit cards.
PayPal President and CEO Alex Chriss emphasized the company’s commitment to transforming college athletics. He saeid PayPal aims to provide student-athletes with faster and easier access to their compensation while offering innovative commerce solutions for campus life.
“We’re proud to help lead this transformation in college athletics by making it easier and faster for student-athletes to get paid and continue to bring trusted and innovative commerce solutions to the heart of campus life,” Alex Chriss said.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark anticipates other conferences will follow suit. He noted the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) may be next to partner with PayPal.
“It is a great day for student-athletes, and I’m sure other conferences are going to embrace this opportunity,” Yormark said. “I was told last night, the ACC is up next, so you’re going to see this program roll out across campuses throughout the country.”
What’s next
With the PayPal deal in place, student-athletes in the Big Ten and Big 12 can anticipate streamlined access to compensation, while other conferences may soon adopt similar payment solutions.