• Loading stock data...
Saturday, August 30, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Get your ticket now!

Judge Threatens to Reject $2.8 Billion House v. NCAA Settlement

She said that the sides had 14 days to fix the deal or she would reject the settlement that would clear the way for colleges to pay athletes.

NC State women's cross country
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, Northern District of California Judge Claudia Wilken threatened to reject the landmark House v. NCAA settlement after months of deliberation and a lengthy objection process over the issue of roster limits. She said that the parties have 14 days to figure out how to ensure athletes don’t lose roster spots as a result of the settlement—or else.

The settlement would allow each Division I school to pay players an aggregate of up to $20.5 million this year for the first time in NCAA history. But it imposed other restrictions that Wilken ultimately saw as too cumbersome.

“Objectors have shown that the immediate implementation of the roster limits provisions of the settlement agreement has resulted or will result in harm to a significant number of members of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Class,” she wrote, referencing how players would lose their opportunity to play for D-I teams if roster limits were imposed.

The settlement proposal consolidated three federal antitrust cases—House v. NCAA, Carter v. NCAA, and Hubbard v. NCAA. House v. NCAA was filed in 2020 against the NCAA and former Power 5 conferences, arguing that players deserved damages for being prohibited from earning NIL (name, image, and likeness) payments before the NCAA changed its rules in 2021. It also argued that the definition of NIL should be expanded to include things like broadcast television rights fees. 

The settlement would offer $2.8 billion in damages, as well as allow all D-I schools to offer up to $20.5 million to all the current players in its athletic department (a number that increases incrementally over a period of 10 years, during the lifetime of the settlement).

While it lists all limits on scholarships, it imposes new roster limits in many sports—a controversial aspect of the settlement to which dozens of players objected. The parties declined to amend the settlement to grandfather in current athletes or prospective athletes who have already received offers to join teams. 

During a final approval hearing, several current athletes testified to the issue, appealing to Wilken to force the parties to ameliorate the roster issue. Wilken said she was in favor of grandfathering, and after the parties rejected it, dozens of other athletes and parents filed more objections, saying their schools were already cutting them from their teams. 

And yet, the NCAA and power conferences declined to do so, citing the impracticality of having teams without roster limits. They also noted that players’ roster spots had already been rescinded.

That excuse did not move Wilken. “Any disruption that may occur is a problem of Defendants’ and NCAA member schools’ own making,” Wilken wrote. As to schools implementing the terms of the settlement before it was fully approved, she wrote: “The fact that the court granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement should not have been interpreted as an indication that it was certain that the court would grant final approval.”

But the testimony and persistence of athletes and their parents nationwide who have protested roster limits appears to have worked. In her order, Wilken explained exactly what she would need to see for the House settlement to be approved: “To modify the settlement agreement to ensure that no members of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Class who have or had a roster spot will lose it as a result of the immediate implementation of the settlement agreement.” 

“Limits could be accomplished gradually by attrition,” she added, suggesting that roster limits could be phased in over the next few years so now athletes who have already received offers have them rescinded.

Now, the parties will have 14 days to try to salvage the settlement, which certainly seems possible, given that Wilken wrote she approved of all other aspects of the proposal. In a statement, plaintiff attorney Steve Berman implied that the hangup on roster limits was on the NCAA and power conference side. “We will work hard to convince the NCAA and the conferences to address the court’s concerns,” he said, adding, “If we are unable to do so, then we are off to trial and we will return to fighting the NCAA in court with next steps.”

In a joint statement, the NCAA and power conferences said they were “closely reviewing” the order, and that they still hope to secure approval of the settlement.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dallas Wings

WNBA Teams Desperate to Expand Rosters Amid ‘Extreme Hardship’ 

The Wings are scrambling to field eight players Friday night.
Candace Parker

Candace Parker Not a WNBA Owner Yet, but Her Business Is Booming

Her WNBA peers say she made the blueprint for earning off the court.

Cody Campbell Asks Congress to Allow National College Sports TV Package

The billionaire’s ad will air on ESPN and Fox this weekend.
Ohio State mascot Brutus interacts with Lee Corso on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the College Football Playoff first round game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers in Columbus on Dec. 21, 2024.

End of an Era: Lee Corso Making Final ‘College GameDay’ Appearance

After 430 iconic headgear picks, the iconic coach bids farewell.

Featured Today

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the spring game at Folsom Field.

Coach Prime Enters Year 3 at Colorado With New Challenges

The Buffaloes have sold out their season tickets yet again.
August 27, 2025

College Football Players Projected to Earn $1.9B This Year, Nearly Double 2024

The spike comes in the first season of revenue-sharing.
August 27, 2025

Fox, YouTube TV Avoid Blackout With Short-Term Deal

The upcoming Texas–Ohio State clash will remain available to subscribers.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
Oregon State Beavers quarterback Gevani McCoy (4) scrambles out of the pocket during an NCAA football game against UNLV at Reser Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Corvallis, Ore.
August 27, 2025

Pac-12 Strikes New Football, Basketball Deal With The CW

The latest step in its resurrection after being picked apart in 2023.
Oct 17, 2015; Evanston, IL, USA; A general view of the Northwestern Wildcats logo at midfield before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Ryan Field.
August 25, 2025

Northwestern AD Singles Out Volleyball As Sport to Invest In

Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson spoke to Front Office Sports.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) is tackled by Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Payton Page (55) during the second half of the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
August 25, 2025

As College Football Season Kicks Off, NIL Deal Approval Process Still Lags

Many deals are stuck in “purgatory,” one power conference collective operator says.
August 25, 2025

$12.5M Freshman Bryce Underwood Named Michigan’s Starting QB

The Wolverines paid big money to land the highly touted recruit.