Basketball has changed quickly as college athletes gain new ways to make money. Schools now have to deal with a system that can affect recruiting, roster decisions and spending across their programs.

That has made the fight over new college sports rules much bigger. The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22 on Sept. 28, sending the bill to the House for consideration.

John Calipari Reveals A Rare Pay Gap

The debate over a proposed $5 million salary cap for coaches became personal for Arkansas coach John Calipari on Wednesday. He used his own program to explain how much player earnings have changed college basketball.

“I’m gonna say this, I probably shouldn’t, nine of my players make more than my assistants, and the other three make more than all my staff, and we are not one of the highest payers. We’re just not,” Calipari said.

John Calipari on the current state of college sports:

“I’m gonna say this: Nine of my players make more than my assistants. And the other three make more than all my staff.”pic.twitter.com/xuxhYmhw0y

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 1, 2026

His comments show a major change in how money is divided inside college programs. Some Arkansas players now earn more than members of the coaching staff.

Calipari also said Arkansas is not one of the highest-paying programs. That means programs at the top of the market may have even larger pay gaps.

Calipari defended his own salary by pointing to his nearly 40 years of coaching. He said he began as a volunteer and then spent two years working as a part-time assistant.

His comments came as the Senate considers a bill that would create federal rules for NIL deals, revenue sharing, transfers and other parts of college sports. The House must also consider the bill before it can move forward.

John Calipari Sees A Bigger Change Coming In Basketball

Money is not Calipari’s only concern in college basketball. He has also warned that the transfer market is changing how coaches build their teams.

“We’re not recruiting freshmen anymore,” Calipari said in August. He was explaining why many programs now prefer older transfers who can make an immediate impact.

Arkansas has chosen a different approach. Calipari said the Razorbacks added eight freshmen while other programs focused more on experienced players.

Calipari believes the Senate bill could solve about 75% to 80% of the problems in college sports. That means he believes the bill would fix most issues, but not all of them.

His Arkansas roster also shows how much player earnings have changed. According to Calipari, some players now make more than the coaches and staff members working with them.

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