Universities can now pay their college athletes. A massive $2.8B antitrust settlement between former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and the NCAA (along with the five biggest athletic conferences) is completely changing college sports. For the first time, schools will be allowed to directly pay athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL)—a huge shift away from the long-standing belief that amateur athletes should not be paid to play. The case, known as the House settlement, also includes billions in back pay for athletes who missed out on NIL money between 2016 and 2024, which will be paid by the NCAA and its conferences. Division I schools will now be able to pay up to a total of $20.5M a year to players, mostly funded through media deals and new fees. This won’t replace third-party NIL deals, but adds to them, creating a more competitive landscape for top talent. While football and men’s basketball players are expected to receive the bulk of the money, Olympic-sport athletes will be impacted too, especially with new scholarship and roster rules. (AP News)
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