• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

The House v. NCAA Settlement Has Its First Formal Objection

  • Houston Christian University, a D-I school in the Southland Conference, filed an intervention request Thursday.
  • The school argues the terms of the House v. NCAA settlement adversely impact it financially.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The first official objection has been filed to the potential settlement in the landmark House v. NCAA case over athlete name, image, and likeness rights.

In May, the NCAA and power conferences approved a potential multibillion-dollar settlement for the lawsuit (along with two other similar lawsuits), which argues that athletes deserve back pay for not being able to profit from NIL before 2021—and that the definition of NIL should be expanded to include television revenue. The settlement, which the plaintiffs’ lawyers also agreed to, would require power conference schools to start revenue-sharing with players, as well as pay $2.7 billion in damages in conjunction with the NCAA. Non-power conference schools were not defendants.

But not everyone in Division I is happy with the settlement. Houston Christian University, a member of the Southland Conference, filed a request for “intervention” to the settlement terms Thursday. The school argued in court documents that the settlement will adversely impact the school’s finances and cause the cost of attendance to rise due to the schools’ loss of funds. Though not specified, HCU’s complaint likely refers to the plan the NCAA has laid out for covering its portion of damages. The governing body will reduce its annual revenue distributions to conferences in order to cover its portion of damages over a period of 10 years, with the amount of more than $1 billion. 

“The proposed settlement will privilege the pursuit of big-money college sports over the needs of ordinary students whom institutions like HCU serve,” the school wrote. “It will divert funds from a university’s core academic mission in favor of big-time sports entertainment.”

HCU also claims it had no say in the settlement terms. In May, a source told Front Office Sports that non-power conferences were not consulted in settlement conversations, and they weren’t even provided financial details during a division-wide meeting with NCAA president Charlie Baker. Instead, the rest of D-I found out about the settlement details only when they were reported in the media, the source said. Big East commissioner Val Ackerman, along with 21 other commissioners, penned a letter to the NCAA asking to change the payment terms to minimize the impact on non-power schools, who were not defendants in the lawsuit. 

The settlement agreement is not final, however. The parties must still submit a formal proposal to the court, which they will likely do by the end of July. Then, Judge Claudia Wilken must review it and give plaintiffs an opportunity to object before providing her final approval. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway walks off the court after losing to Colorado State Rams at Climate Pledge Arena.

Memphis Basketball and Softball Placed on NCAA Probation

Memphis has had multiple NCAA issues since hiring Penny Hardaway.
July 16, 2025

Alabama’s New Era Contends With NIL—and Nick Saban Rumors

Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
July 16, 2025

President Trump Is Actively Working on an NIL-Related Executive Order

It’s unclear what the executive order would include.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.
July 15, 2025

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
July 15, 2025

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.
May 15, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; United States Capitol seen as People rally outside the Supreme Court before justices hears oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. At issue in the case is if the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
July 15, 2025

Pro-NCAA Bill Takes First Step Toward Being Introduced on House Floor for..

It could be the first bill of its kind to make it to the House floor.