A Knight Commission C.A.R.E. Champion is a designation that can be earned by a Division I athletics conference when it fully implements all the C.A.R.E. Model requirements, which prioritize the education and well-being of college athletes while integrating education-based principles in financial incentives and athletics spending.
The C.A.R.E. Model (Connecting Athletics Revenues with the Educational Model of College Sports) was developed by the Knight Commission to assist conferences and national entities in bolstering accountability and to ensure that both the distribution and spending of shared athletics revenue prioritize college athletes’ education, health, safety, well-being, equity, and opportunity. This holistic model supports the educational mission of college sports and includes four principles and requirements:
1. Transparency
2. Independent Oversight
3. Incentives for Core Values of Education, Gender Equity, and Opportunity
4. Financial Responsibility for Education, Health, Safety, and Well-Being
Five Division I conferences have now achieved C.A.R.E. Champion distinction with the America East Conference and The Summit League joining the Big Sky Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and The Southern Conference.
C.A.R.E. Champions lead the way among other Division I conferences in promoting gender equity. To earn this distinction, any conference providing financial incentives for team success, such as postseason competition, must provide them equally between men and women on an annual basis. For example, C.A.R.E. Champions providing annual performance incentives will award March Madness basketball victories at equal dollar amounts when achieved during the same round.
Current C.A.R.E. Champions
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Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, 2025-2026; 2024-2025 |
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The Southern Conference, 2025-2026; 2024-2025 |
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The Big Sky Conference, 2025-2026; 2024-2025 |
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America East Conference, 2025-2026 |
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The Summit League, 2025-2026 |