A $2.8 billion legal settlement aimed at changing college sports is now in the hands of a federal judge for a final decision.
The settlement, which would allow schools to share millions of dollars with current and former athletes, was negotiated by attorneys representing the NCAA and major college conferences.
They recently submitted a legal brief rejecting last-minute changes suggested by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken. The judge had asked for adjustments to rules limiting team roster sizes, but the attorneys argued that changing these rules now would cause major disruptions.
The attorneys said the current plan is a big improvement over past rules. It will let schools pay athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) and provide nearly $2.8 billion in compensation to athletes who were previously barred from earning money. They only proposed minor changes to the deal announced last year.
Judge Wilken had asked the lawyers to consider a “grandfather” rule to protect some athletes who might lose their team spots under the new roster limits.
But the NCAA and conferences said this would cause chaos because many roster decisions have already been made based on the settlement going into effect on July 1. They explained that athletes have made important choices, like transferring schools, based on the expected rules.
The judge has already given preliminary approval to the settlement, calling it a “good” deal despite some flaws. She asked for responses from people who object to the settlement, and several have spoken out. One lawyer said the deal ignores Title IX, the law that protects gender equality in sports, and that this mistake affects over a billion dollars in damages.
Another letter, from a gymnast at Temple University, said the settlement would unfairly force schools to cut thousands of athletes without any way to appeal.
More than a dozen athletes and their lawyers voiced concerns at a hearing last week. Among all the issues raised, the debate over roster limits seemed to have the biggest influence on the judge.
A final ruling from Judge Wilken is expected in the coming weeks. If approved, the settlement will set a new standard for how college athletes can be paid and compensated for their past and future participation in sports.
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