Financial Changes for Athletes
A federal judge's approval enables schools to pay athletes directly, starting a new era of college sports with a $2.8 billion settlement for revenue sharing and past damages.
Each school can share up to $20.5 million with athletes in the 2025-26 season, with $2.7 billion allocated over a decade to former players previously excluded from NIL revenue.
Structural and Oversight Reforms
The settlement shifts oversight from the NCAA to the four major conferences (ACC, , , and SEC) and introduces a new enforcement group for compliance.
Roster limits, a contentious issue, were addressed by allowing players cut from teams to return or transfer without counting against new limits, ensuring walk-on athletes' opportunities.