NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma is participating in a multi-university collaboration exploring the future of college athletics as schools navigate the transfer portal, name, image and likeness policies, legal challenges, conference realignment and other shifts affecting collegiate sports.
Honors colleges at 10 of the 16 universities in the Southeastern Conference are collaborating to offer a course on the changing college sports landscape.
“It has been fascinating to observe the changes in college sports over the past few years,” said Kalenda Eaton, Ph.D., associate dean in the Honors College at the University of Oklahoma. “The relationship between college athletic teams and their impact on universities is being discussed across campuses in ways we have not seen in recent history.”
The class will examine the changes in college athletics, including legal issues, revenue sharing, athletic department budgeting, licensing, sports marketing and journalism. With input from multiple SEC schools, the course explores campus operations and conference changes shaping college athletics. It is designed as a collaborative, interdisciplinary experience that allows students to engage with peers and experts across the SEC while participating in ongoing, real-time discussions about the culture and business of college sports, Eaton said.
Through weekly sessions at host universities, students will hear from guest speakers and analyze topics such as legal updates in college sports, NIL (name, image and likeness), television rights, the College Football Playoff and the future of non-revenue sports. At OU, additional sessions will cover the business of sports, the role of athletics in higher education, athletes and society, and fan culture within the SEC, including visits with SEC athletic directors.
The course emphasizes active participation and reflection, urging students to critically engage with the evolving landscape of college athletics and to build cross-institutional connections. It will be taught by SEC faculty, including industry and athletics guest lecturers, with seven OU instructors participating as well.
The collaboration originated during the 2025 SEC Honors Conference in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where attendees proposed a conference-wide initiative to promote broader discussions about the changing landscape of college sports. Participating universities include OU, Auburn University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, Texas A&M University, The University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Kentucky, University of Missouri and University of South Carolina.
Paul Gilmore, Ph.D., dean of the OU Honors College, recognizes the course’s importance. “As one of the premier college athletic programs, OU’s joining the SEC made complete sense. With this class, we extend those connections from the field and gym to the honors classroom, as students from around the conference come together to learn more about college athletics during this period. This class exemplifies the academic and athletic reach of the SEC and the valuable resources and partnerships it brings to the OU community.”
The course is designed for undergraduate honors students, who will have priority access to enroll before it opens to the wider student body. The one-credit honors seminar begins in fall 2026 and meets weekly in person. Early registration opens March 30. For more information, email k.eaton1@ou.edu or phone 405-325-2377. Learn more at the college website.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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