This morning the University sent out Ross Bjork's first open letter as VP and Athletic Director.

He touched on various topics, namely the House vs. NCAA lawsuit and NIL - and how changes will be coming in 2025 that impact all collegiate sports. As has already been reported, he confirmed the University's commitment to all 36 varsity sports. 

Pasted below is an excerpt of the letter. I think it's good to see in print some of the commitments he's helping to drive in the coming years - a revised football season ticket plan, upgrades to facilities including the Woody and the Shoe, etc :

A central purpose of my first open letter to Buckeye Nation is to keep you informed of important developments related to the future model of college athletics and specifically the class action lawsuit known as House vs. NCAA. Recently, the U.S. District Court issued preliminary approval of the settlement agreement, with a final decision scheduled for April 7, 2025. Once finalized, this landmark settlement will reshape collegiate athletics and bring much needed clarity, not only for Ohio State but also our peers in the Big Ten and across NCAA Division I.

When the settlement is approved, here are the key changes that will go into effect July 1, 2025:

• Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Payments also referred to as "revenue sharing" for student-athletes: Ohio State University will be permitted to directly compensate student-athletes through NIL licensing agreements, anticipated to be $20.5 million in 2025-26. This new allocation of our department’s resources will increase annually by at least 4%. Previously, student-athletes could only receive scholarships and be compensated for NIL agreements supported by external entities.
• Roster and Scholarship Adjustments: New NCAA roster limits will set a cap on the number of athletes eligible for each team, and programs will now be permitted to fund as many scholarships as there are roster spots.
• NIL Backpay for Eligible Athletes: All Division I athletes who participated in collegiate sports between 2016 and 2024 are eligible for backpay for NIL earnings.

With support from President Carter, and our Board of Trustees, we are committed to maintaining 36 intercollegiate sports and athletic scholarships for all 36 programs, while also fully funding the $20.5 million dollars of direct payments to student-athletes. After a thorough review of factors such as Title IX compliance, national and conference sport sponsorship trends, our history of competitive success, and a sound fiscal plan, we are excited to announce the addition of 91 new scholarships across both women’s and men’s sports. We firmly believe this new investment will allow our programs to continue to compete for and win championships and keep excellence at the forefront of our mission.

As I continue to meet as many Buckeyes as possible, I have been asked many times, “How can we help?” or “What do you need from us?”. To support these increased costs to our department and enhance the Circle of Care that surrounds each student-athlete with dedicated resources for their academic, athletic, and personal growth, we are actively reviewing a range of initiatives where all of Buckeye Nation can continue to stay invested or create new opportunities to be involved. They include but are not limited to: strengthen and expand the Buckeye Club and Champions Fund as the philanthropic arm of Ohio State Athletics, a revised football season ticket plan for 2025 season that meets the needs for as many Buckeye fans as possible, increasing corporate sponsorships, including new NIL agreements with student-athletes and naming opportunities across our athletics facilities, new strategic initiatives around licensing/branding relationships, continuing to enhance our facilities with the next phase of the athletics district, a combined men’s and women’s ice arena, Woody Hayes Athletics Complex, and several imminent upgrades at Ohio Stadium. 

We will also continue to work diligently to further reduce operating expenses while uncovering many of the new revenue sources that fit Ohio State traditional values. We are committed to being extremely innovative and creative amid these changes to the collegiate sports model. During these times of immense change, we have an opportunity to show the world what it means to be a Buckeye and lead the way into the future. 

To ensure the long-term success of our athletic programs, we are asking for the commitment and support of everyone who is part of Buckeye Nation. We will be sharing additional correspondence that will highlight the various ways in which you can help support your Buckeyes and together, we will preserve and enhance the proud legacy of Ohio State Athletics.

Thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do for THE Ohio State University.

Go Buckeyes!

Ross Bjork