Dana Altman Reveals Oregon Players Took Major NIL Pay Cuts Amid Massive Roster Overhaul
The Ducks have just two scholarship players remaining from last year's team.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman has disclosed that several players on last year's roster faced significant reductions in their name, image, and likeness compensation, a factor that contributed to one of the most dramatic roster turnovers in the program's recent history.
Altman confirmed the financial reality during a recent media session, stating bluntly that some players encountered a 'big reduction' in their NIL deals as the program recalibrated its roster and financial commitments heading into the new season.
The fallout from those reductions is stark. Of last year's scholarship roster, only two players remain with the Ducks, leaving Altman and his staff to rebuild almost entirely through the transfer portal and incoming recruits.
The mass exodus underscores the increasingly transactional nature of college basketball, where NIL valuations and roster management decisions now drive player movement as much as playing time or program prestige.
Altman, who has guided Oregon to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, faces the challenge of building team chemistry quickly with a largely new group. The Ducks must establish cohesion among players who are mostly strangers to one another and to the program's culture.
The situation in Eugene reflects a broader trend across college athletics, as programs nationwide grapple with budget constraints, shifting NIL market values, and the relentless churn of the transfer portal. Coaches are increasingly doubling as roster architects and financial negotiators.
Oregon fans will be watching closely to see how Altman navigates one of the most uncertain roster situations of his tenure, with the upcoming season serving as a critical test of whether he can assemble a competitive unit from the ground up.