It has been settled. Today marks an unprecedented–and historic–moment for college athletes across the nation as Judge Claudia Wilken has officially approved the landmark $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement. The final approval today comes after years of litigation, and introduces a new era of college athletics in a landscape full of changes.
“Today is a historic day and is, ultimately, a pivotal moment not just for our members, but for college athletes fueling this multibillion-dollar industry,” said Brandon Copeland, co-founder of Athletes.org. “The House settlement is a step in the right direction by acknowledging that NIL is not the fix for college athletics, but that sharing the revenue with the athletes who produce it, is. However, as objections and recent headlines continue to mount, the only true fix is actively bringing athletes to the table through their chosen association – Athletes.org – to negotiate real rules and real structure so that all parties are fairly represented as the business evolves.”
The settlement brings about rapid change to the landscape of college athletics, and includes many crucial key outcomes, including:
- Revenue Sharing: Starting July 1, NCAA-member schools will be able to directly compensate athletes for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), unlocking billions in annual payments. Schools can allocate up to 22% of specified revenues—such as ticket sales and media rights—to athletes, with annual increases over the next decade.
- Backpay for Athletes: More than $2.75 billion in back damages will be distributed to athletes who competed between 2016 and 2024, addressing years of inequity in NIL compensation.
“The time to fix college athletics is now, and it is time for clarity and guardrails to protect the athletes and the schools who have built this industry into what it is today,” said Copeland. “Some may say that House is the answer and the fix for college athletics, just like they believed NIL, the Alston case, and many others would be the answer. But, the only way for a sustainable future is through collective bargaining for athletes. Anything less than that will flood the headlines with stories of athletes acting for their best interests against schools and conferences who will try to impose rules that limit their earning potential, leading to more confusion, more litigation.”
Athletes.org (AO) is proud to have been a part in the process that led to this settlement, offering opinions and guidance via an Amicus brief and working closely with several named plaintiffs, including Grant House, Nya Harrison and Sedona Prince through a letter to the Court. As this time of change continues, AO and its members will continue to ensure athletes’ voices are heard and represented now – and in the future.
During this time of immense change, Athletes.org is prepared as the solution to the industry. AO is ready to discuss and work with schools and conferences that will bring their athletes to the table to negotiate the terms they play under; just like the players associations and leagues do in the professional ranks, which preserve, strengthen, and grow their multi-billion dollar partnerships.
Athletes.org, “The Players Association for College Athletes,” is a voluntary membership organization whose membership includes more than 4,700 current and former college athletes. AO exists to educate, organize, and represent college athletes as their chosen players association in an attempt to ensure their seat at the table in the ever-changing landscape of college sports.
– ATHLETES.ORG –