• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Lawyers File New Documents in Attempt to Save House v. NCAA Settlement

  • The judge asked lawyers to specifically rework a part of the settlement focusing on NIL restrictions.
  • The new document contained few changes compared with the original version.
Running back Kalel Mullings (20) celebrates a touchdown against USC with teammates during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Imagn Images

The NCAA, Power 5 conferences, and plaintiff attorneys on Thursday night filed an amended settlement proposal in the House v. NCAA case that included changes to issues raised by Northern District of California Judge Claudia Wilken. 

The amended settlement still grants the NCAA the ability to block certain NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals—an issue Wilken expressly told lawyers to “go back to the drawing board” to address.

The changes are an attempt by lawyers to satisfy Wilken’s concerns without taking out too many of the provisions the NCAA considers integral to the deal. The NCAA had made it clear, for example, that if the settlement didn’t include the ability to block certain NIL deals, the NCAA may be willing to kill the settlement and go to trial.

The settlement, first filed in July, would require the NCAA and power conferences to pay $2.8 billion in damages, as well as allow schools to share a percentage of revenue with athletes for the first time in history (in the beginning, up to around $22 million). But the settlement also included new athlete compensation restrictions, establishing a third-party to review and potentially block any NIL deal over $600 that was seen as pay-for-play, and not “fair market value.” It was a direct attempt at controlling NIL collectives.

During a hearing on Sept. 5, Wilken’s strongest objection appeared to be to the NIL deal approval process. Wilken was wary of giving the NCAA the power to dictate which NIL deals athletes could or couldn’t sign. She raised the issue of the definition of a booster, and asked if the approval process would end up taking existing deals away from athletes (something she said is not very popular). 

The attorneys filed a brief that explained that because NCAA rules already prohibit NIL deals used as pay for play, the settlement wouldn’t actually prohibit any deals that aren’t already against the rules. It also explained that the NIL restrictions would only apply to entities that resembled collectives—whereas before, all third parties had to go through that process.

The settlement provided a new definition of “booster” (a longtime legal dispute). Some of the new criteria include a person who has contributed more than $50,000 to a school or NIL collective, someone who works for an NIL collective, or someone who helps with recruiting. 

But it did little else to change the terms of the settlement regarding the NIL restrictions.

Wilken will now have the opportunity to decide whether to accept the settlement and allow a monthslong process for final approval to go forward. It’s unclear if the new changes and explanations provided will be enough to sway her.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Apr 9, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Katie Taylor (left) and Amanda Serrano (right) pose in front of Jake Paul during a press conference ahead of their boxing match at Madison Square Garden.

Serrano vs. Taylor 3 Set to Be Biggest Women’s Boxing Match in..

“I’m just sick of the whining and complaining from your team.”
Jeff Kaplan

Letting PE Invest in Family-Owned Teams Is a ‘Watershed’

Liquidity gives owners greater flexibility to manage salary cap.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.

NCAA: March Madness Expansion to 76 Teams ‘Still Viable’ for 2026

Negotiations continue with media rights holder CBS and TNT Sports.
July 10, 2025

Deion Sanders Rips ‘Bulljunk’ in CFB, Calls for NFL-Style Salary Cap

Coach Prime is frustrated with the new revenue-sharing era.
The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
July 10, 2025

Athletic Departments Express Renewed Interest in PE in Wake of House Settlement

Schools now have more expenses—and are looking for creative solutions.
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
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard KK Arnold (2)1 dribbles against UCLA Bruins forward Angela Dugalic (32) during the third quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena.
July 10, 2025

‘Kind of a Joke’: Frustrations Mount As New NIL Deal Approval Process..

Delays have already led to athletes losing NIL opportunities.
Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Head coaches Willie Fritz of Houston, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, Lance Leipold of Kansas, Sonny Dykes of TCU, Kyle Whittingham of Utah, Brent Brennan of Arizona and Deion Sanders of Colorado all sit on stage for a Coaches Roundtable during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star.
July 9, 2025

Big 12 Commish: Conference Is ‘All In’ on International Expansion

The conference had once planned a large initiative in Mexico.
Sebastian Rivera (R) tf. Danny Coles 6:47 (20-3). Rutgers University Wrestling vs Princeton in Piscataway, NJ on February 18, 2022.
July 9, 2025

The House Settlement Is Being Appealed. It Won’t Stop Revenue-Sharing—for Now

The settlement’s approval on June 6 triggered an appeals process.
July 9, 2025

Big Ten, Big 12 Commissioners Remain Far Apart on CFP’s Future

A decision on expansion must be made by December.