The NCAA has budgeted $300,000 to pay expenses for the families of the athletes in the men’s and women’s Final Four.
Under a one-year pilot program that began with the College Football Playoff championship, family members are allowed to receive a stipend to cover travel costs to select championship events. This year, those events are the CFP championship and the men’s and women’s Final Four.
The $300,000 distribution from the NCAA comes out to nearly $2,700 per family for the athletes in the two Final Fours. More could be allotted for athletes who make it to the championship game.
NCAA legislation to make this stipend available for athletes in all sports will be considered later this year.
The NCAA already is working on models to pay the travel stipend to athletes in all 89 championships, if the new legislation passes.
Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer and Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari are among the coaches who have been publicly lobbying for families to be paid a travel stipend like this.
— Michael Smith
