Florida State reportedly signing players to ‘aggressive’ rev-share contracts, ruffling feathers
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Florida State has seemingly ruffled some feathers in the NIL space over the revenue-share agreements it has drafted for student-athletes.
Several agents who represent players on the Florida State roster spoke to CBS Sports recently under the condition of anonymity to discuss what they called “aggressive” contracts the school is putting in front of players. CBS Sports also contacted general managers from around the power conferences to get their assessment of the language in FSU’s rev-share agreements, with one Big Ten GM saying some of the stipulations were “not normal.”
CBS Sports viewed copies of the agreements FSU has presented to student-athletes. According to the outlet, those agreements contain, among other things, fines of up to a $2,500 for lost team equipment like cleats, a breach of contract clause that gives FSU the right to renegotiate or cancel a player’s contract after any sort of injury, and a provision that could potentially limit an athlete’s right to counsel during future negotiations.
“Some of the concepts are pretty standard,” one agent told CBS Sports. “But FSU is going about this far more aggressively than any school I’ve seen. I’m disappointed by the adversarial nature of these contracts.”
Added a Big 12 general manager: “I do understand they have all the leverage, but f***.”
Ahead of the start of the rev-share era on July 1, schools are drafting multi-page contracts for student-athletes that attempt to cover the university for a broad range of outcomes. One agent told CBS Sports that schools are “throwing everything they can and the kitchen sink” as they journey into completely unprecedented territory.
The report from CBS Sports illustrates at least a certain level of discontent within the industry about the way Florida State is managing the moment. However, several unnamed agents told CBS Sports that Florida State isn’t the only school operating that way.
“I don’t think Florida State is the worst at all in this business,” an agent with a player on FSU’s roster told the outlet. “There are schools I trust less.”
In a statement provided to CBS Sports, a Florida State spokesperson said FSU’s agreements provide “deliverables and expectations” for all parties.
“Each individual situation will be unique and the hypotheticals are impossible to predict,” the statement continued. “However, we are committed to continuing to provide an elite experience for our student-athletes in all aspects of their collegiate career. Florida State is looking forward to the mutually beneficial partnerships with our student-athletes in this new era.”
Florida State’s 2026 class is starting to heat up on the trail as well. FSU’s current haul of 20 known commits ranks ninth in the nation. Since June 22, coach Mike Norvell has secured verbal commitments from 7 players — 5 of them blue-chippers. FSU has added 12 to its class in June alone.
The Seminoles also signed the sixth-ranked transfer class in the country during the offseason, a boost to a program looking to rebound from a horrendous 2-10 season last fall.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
