Letter from Oklahoma State Athletics Director Chad Weiberg

(This is the letter sent out on Friday morning from Chad Weiberg to Oklahoma State fans, alumni, and friends.)

Happy New Year from OSU Athletics!

As we enter 2025, it is true that we are living in the most transformational time in the history of college athletics. And with that comes a truly transformational opportunity for OSU Athletics in a way we could never have envisioned before. Beginning now, we have the ability to shape the future into what we want our university and our athletics department to be.

Below you will see several changes that have already been implemented by the NCAA, with another transformational shift coming on the immediate horizon. While some may see these changes as impossible challenges, I believe at Oklahoma State we will choose to see these changes as unfettered access for the Cowboys and Cowgirls to the highest levels of competition in college athletics.

As part of the Cowboy Code says: We dream as big as the sky.

This message is not intended as a call to arms, but as confirmation of permission for all of us who love Oklahoma State to take full control of our destiny. We have accomplished much thanks to the hard and dedicated work of so many. However, it is accurate to believe that our best days still lie ahead, but only if we come together and seize this incredible opportunity.

Oklahoma State remains determined to compete for championships in the Big 12 Conference and at the highest levels of college athletics. To do so, we will need to have access to an additional $20.5 Million annually.

How We Make It Happen

1.      We will take a hard look at our operating expenses. If something doesn’t improve our competitiveness, recruiting or generate revenue, it will be reviewed.

2.      Campus support will be key. President Shrum has been a leader in supporting OSU Athletics throughout conference realignment and our shifting landscapes. She, along with our Board of Regents, believes in the value of athletics in the campus experience and OSU’s mission.

3.      As always, our alumni, donors and fans control our destiny. Some things never change. You are our foundation.

What Can I Do?

1.      Be a POSSE member. For 60 years, the POSSE has been Athletics’ fundraising arm. While we may be limited by the population of our city and state, or the capacity of our facilities, there is no limit to POSSE membership. Currently it has just under 10,000 members while we have more than 250,000 living alumni and many more fans. If you are someone who has never been a contributor to OSU Athletics through the POSSE, now is the time. Your contribution matters now more than ever. Get involved. Invite others to join you. Let’s increase the POSSE membership to 15,000, 20,000 and beyond. Again, we are only limited by ourselves.

2.      Buy Football Tickets. In the coming weeks, we will launch season ticket renewals for Cowboy Football. OSU Football generates the vast majority of revenue that helps drive success in all our programs. Buying football tickets and making the associated seat contributions supports every one of our teams and student-athletes. Prices are still being finalized and will be communicated to each ticket account holder individually. I can state it is necessary for us to increase ticket prices and seat contributions to the POSSE. As a result, POSSE levels will also be adjusted, including the addition of new leadership contribution levels and benefit changes. Please remember, when you purchase or renew your seats, you are not only joining the Cowboys in Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturdays, but you are also supporting the future of Cowboy Football and the seventeen other varsity sports and every one of our student-athletes. Again, more information will follow in the coming weeks with additional details regarding these changes.

Why Today Is Critical

Our world has changed. Recently, you may have heard about the settlement of the House lawsuit, which introduces a revenue-sharing model for college athletics. The settlement is very different from NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) but both dramatically affect OSU Athletics.

What Is Revenue Sharing?

1.      The House settlement means that OSU will be able to share revenue directly with student-athletes in exchange for the use of their NIL. While a significant enhancement for many of our student-athletes, this groundbreaking change to our model presents significant financial challenges. Unlike NIL, revenue sharing comes directly from the revenue streams that fund our entire athletic department – including scholarships, team travel, sports medicine, nutrition, coaching and staff salaries and other critical operations.

2.      The revenue share cap, as defined by the House settlement, is 22 percent of the average defined revenues of the conferences that are party to the settlement (Big 12, SEC, ACC and Big Ten). The cap is estimated to be $20.5 million for the 2025-2026 year and will increase annually. The cap is permissive in the sense that OSU is not compelled to meet the estimated total but cannot exceed it. To remain competitive, it will be in OSU’s best interest to share the full amount as allowed by the House settlement.

The Definition Of NIL

1.      NIL allows student-athletes to earn money by monetizing their personal brands through sponsorships, endorsements and other business-related ventures. The payments the student-athlete receives for this activity comes directly from companies, businesses, or organizations that choose to work with student-athletes to promote their commercial activity.

2.      Businesses can be owned or operated by OSU alumni, fans, donors or unaffiliated individuals. NIL has been a significant step forward for athletes, allowing them to capitalize on their talents and marketability. NIL has no effect on revenue sharing from the House settlement.

Beginning with COVID and continuing with conference realignment, we have remained focused on controlling what we can control and not wasting valuable energy and resources on things that cannot be controlled. Like COVID, the terms of the House settlement fall into the category of outside of OSU Athletics’ control. However, we can control our response to the settlement terms by taking full advantage of the opportunities it presents for our student-athletes and OSU Athletics.

As another part of the Cowboy Code says: We end the day knowing we gave it everything we had.

There will be more information to come regarding the opportunities ahead with OSU’s plan to implement the House settlement. In the meantime, if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at athletic.director@okstate.edu.

Go Pokes!

Chad Weiberg

Vice President of Athletic Programs

Director of Athletics