Buc-ee's Field, Jerseys With A Walmart Logo, Times Are Changing In College Sports As Leaders Look For Revenue

DESTIN, Fla - One of the more intriguing conversations during SEC meetings this week centered around how athletic departments across college sports could add additional revenue in the wake of new changes coming in the near future. Could one of those ways include throwing a ‘Buc-ees’ logo on the football field? 

Now that the NCAA has laid out the framework for a settlement that will see revenue-sharing introduced to college sports, athletic departments will continue to look for additional ways to pay for this new venture. 

One of those potential avenues of adding revenue could come in the form of sponsorship from corporate entities that would show up on a football field, or possibly jerseys in different sports. We've already seen some schools take advantage of a rule that allows them to sell the naming rights to their stadium or basketball arena, but we could be on the brink of something similar to the professional model. 

But if this is going to happen, there will need to be a change in the current rules pertaining to corporate sponsors in collegiate sports. 

A Buc-ee’s Logo On The 20-Yard Line For The Texas Longhorns? 

Could we see a Buc-ee’s logo on the Texas Longhorns field next season? How about a giant Walmart logo on the Arkansas Razorbacks turf? These are all possibilities that the NCAA will be discussing on June 6th during a meeting regarding rules and the Division I manual that is discussed on a yearly basis, with the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. 

We have already seen this type of thing in bowl games, along with the yearly neutral-site games played in cities like Atlanta, Las Vegas, Orlando and others. Now, this could become the new norm for colleges across the country, as Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin discussed on Wednesday during a break in SEC meetings. 

"I believe the NCAA is going to allow us to put a sponsor logo on the field during the regular season," Stricklin noted on Wednesday. "That's an obvious revenue stream that has not been there in the past. The pro sports are putting patches on jerseys. That doesn't seem like something that's crazy for us to consider these days."

Florida AD Scott Stricklin. SEC Spring Meetings brought more questions than answers, but we could see a new form of revenue in the form of logos on stadium fields, or jerseys. Via: Trey Wallace

At the moment, schools cannot advertise on the playing field or court, with the only exception being the previously mentioned neutral-site game or postseason contest. There are rules as to how much space is allowed to be taken up. 

While corporate logos on football fields is one possible revenue solution, there is also a possibility of using a players' jersey as another form of advertisement. I can see it now, one big Verizon logo on a basketball jersey, or a gas station logo on the back of a football uniform. 

If you’re wondering why this is being talked about so much at this current stage, just look at the amount of money that could potentially be spent on revenue-sharing with student-athletes. There are currently figures that could see schools having a salary cap of anywhere between $18-$22 million per season. 

So yes, schools are going to come up with new ways to create revenue, and if that means slapping a logo on the playing field, then that's exactly what will be done in this new era. 

If I am being honest, I think a massive Buc-ee's logo on the 20-yard line of Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas would be a fantastic idea.