Indiana basketball will pay out more than $500,000 for non-conference games this season

Indianapolis Star

18 hours ago

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball will pay out more than $500,000 to non-conference opponents in 2025-26 for guarantee games, but agreements to play Louisville and participate in a multi-team event (MTE) that includes a game against Marquette at the United Center will offset those costs.
The athletic department provided contracts for all the 2025-26 non-conference men's basketball games to The Herald-Times in response to an open records request.
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Per the game contract, Indiana will receive $500,000 for playing Louisville at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Dec. 6 as part of an agreement with bdgSports. The full-service sports marketing agency organized the event and will receive all the revenue from the game.
While the contract stipulates the money to be 'earmarked for Participant's student-athletes to engage in Name, Image and Likeness ('NIL') activities during ancillary functions at this Game,' the contract predates the House v. NCAA settlement that established a clearinghouse to vet all NIL deals and the money is now expected to be paid out directly to the school.
The Hoosiers will be required to participate in a press conference in Indianapolis prior to the launch of ticket sales and attend a 'charity-based reception/banquet' the night before the game as part of the contract.
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Division I teams are allowed to play up to 31 regular-season games if they compete in an MTE, an early season tournament or event with multiple teams.
Indiana has an unnamed MTE on their 2025-26 schedule organized by the Gazelle Group that's structured differently than the ones in which it participated each of the last two seasons (Battle 4 Atlantis and Empire Classic).
The Gazelle Group's event includes two 'Host Teams' (Indiana and Marquette) along with a travel pool. The Hoosiers will play Marquette in a 'Showcase Game' at the United Center in Chicago on Nov. 9.
They will also host games as part of the event in Bloomington against Milwaukee (Nov. 12) and Incarnate Word (Nov. 16).
Indiana will pay a fee to the Gazelle Group 'as compensation for the two home games played during the Host Rounds' but will receive payment for participating in the showcase game and also receive a percentage of the net ticket sales from that matchup.
The exact financials were redacted in the contract provided to The Herald-Times, but IU is expected to profit from participating in the MTE.
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The cost of Indiana basketball's guarantee games in 2025-26 range from $105,000-$115,000 with the exception being a visit from Kansas State on Nov. 25. The contract is similar to the one South Carolina agreed to last season with the Hoosiers and doesn't include any compensation for the Wildcats.
Alabama A&M and Lindenwood will each receive $110,000, Chicago State will receive $105,000, Siena College will receive $112,000 and Bethune-Cookman will receive $115,000.