In a dramatic courtroom showdown that blurred the lines between justice and gridiron politics, a California federal judge slammed the brakes on the NCAA’s $2.78 billion name, image, and likeness (NIL) settlement, ordering attorneys to return in a week with solutions to a chorus of athlete objections — including those voiced by former NFL linebacker Benjamin Burr-Kirven and LSU gymnastics superstar and influencer Olivia Dunne.
At the heart of this legal juggernaut is a sprawling, decade-long proposed settlement that aims to resolve two sweeping antitrust class actions against the NCAA. But with legal landmines and emotional testimony, the deal’s path to approval is now anything but certain.
From Settlement to Scrutiny
During a grueling six-hour hearing in Oakland, U.S. District Judge Claudia Ann Wilken refrained from granting final approval to the settlement, citing unresolved concerns raised by both high-profile and lesser-known athletes.
“Think about what you can do with all of these issues,” Judge Wilken told the attorneys, hinting at a path forward but warning that “some of these things could be fixed.”
Out of the 390,000 potential class members, only 343 opted out, but 73 athletes filed formal objections, with another 88,104 already submitting claims. The judge called this a “surprisingly high” response rate in such a massive class action — a signal that the athlete community is engaged and uneasy.
