A California federal judge on Monday preliminarily approved the NCAA’s revised $2.78 billion antitrust settlement with athletes suing over the organization’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation rules. The court set a hearing for final approval on April 7, 2025—a date that coincides with the men’s basketball national championship game in San Antonio.
Judge Approves Revised Settlement Terms
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who initially denied the settlement following a September hearing, requested revisions regarding restrictions on NIL compensation and distribution. The NCAA and the class of athletes submitted an amended settlement on Sept. 26, which Judge Wilken preliminarily approved. She also established an Oct. 18 date to begin sending notice to the approximately 184,000 members of the athlete class. Any objections to the NCAA NIL settlement must be filed by Jan. 31, 2025.
NCAA NIL Settlement Ok : NCAA, Athletes Applaud Decision
NCAA President Charlie Baker expressed optimism following the court’s preliminary approval. “We are thrilled by Judge Wilken’s decision to give preliminary approval to the landmark settlement that will help bring stability and sustainability to college athletics while delivering increased benefits to student-athletes for years to come,” Baker said. He noted the ruling as a significant milestone in shaping the future of college sports, particularly through greater student-athlete compensation under NIL agreements.
