Reimagining the NCAA: Data as the New Competitive Advantage

For more than a century, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has served as the governing body of college athletics. Today, however, the landscape has fundamentally shifted. With NIL, conference realignment, expanded playoffs, and revenue-sharing models redefining the economic structure of college sports, athletics departments are increasingly operating like professional franchises. In this new era, data is no longer a back-office reporting function - it is a strategic asset. This panel explores how the NCAA and its member institutions are replacing siloed decision-making with enterprise-level business intelligence. From national benchmarking and shared data infrastructure to advanced ticketing strategies like dynamic pricing, yield optimization, CRM activation, and demand forecasting, analytics is directly driving revenue growth. Join Erin Kelly, Brian Higgins, Dan Stahl, and Nick Picadura, as they discuss how institutions are maximizing fan lifetime value and building a more sustainable financial future for college athletics. The new competitive edge isn't just on the field, it's in the data.