The attorneys in the House case have taken another step in their effort to convince Judge Wilken to approve the highly anticipated House Settlement. The House Settlement is the result of three cases against the NCAA and Power 5 Conferences. This settlement is expected to completely change the administration of college sports. If the settlement is not approved, the NCAA and Power 5 Conferences face up to $4.3 billion in damages. Last month, a fairness hearing was held where the judge heard arguments for and against the approval of the settlement. For the settlement to be approved, the judge must find that the settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable to the members of the class.
During the hearing, the judge took issue with the results of how universities begun to prepare for the roster limit changes under the settlement. Schools cut players from various team rosters. Some even rescinded athletic offers to the new incoming class. The judge took issue with this and issued an order stating that the settlement would not be approved as is due to the impact of the roster limit changes. The judge ordered the attorneys to fix the issue. On May 7th, the attorneys filed their proposed solution to the problem. In the proposed solution, plaintiffs’ attorneys state that “any athlete who would have lost their roster spot (or a promised roster spot) for the 2025-2026 academic year due to the immediate implementation of roster limits will be exempt from any roster limits at any Division I institution, for the duration of their college careers.”
Specifically, the proposed solution asserts that the NCAA roster limits in the Settlement will not apply to any athlete who was on a Division I roster during the 2024-2025 academic year and who was or would have been removed from that roster for the 2025-2026 academic year due to the implementation of roster limits. The proposed settlement also asserts that the NCAA roster limits in the Settlement will not apply to any high school athlete who was recruited to be, or was assured they would be on a Division I roster for the 2025-2026 academic year and who was or would be removed from the roster for the 2025-2026 academic year due to the implementation of roster limits.
The attorneys assert that these changes adequately address Judge Wilken's concerns by ensuring that any athlete who would have lost a roster spot (or a promised roster spot) for the 2025-2026 academic year will not be subject to roster limits for the duration of his or her Division I athletic eligibility at any school. The question now is: Are these changes sufficient to garner approval of the settlement? Judge Wilken issued an order inviting attorneys representing those who objected to the settlement to file a response to the roster limit proposal. These responses must be filed by next Tuesday. Accordingly, the House settlement saga continues.
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