Federal Judge Greenlights $2.8 Billion Settlement, Paving the Way for US Colleges to Compensate Athletes Millions

In a landmark decision reshaping college athletics, a federal judge has green-lit a transformative settlement, heralding unprecedented financial opportunities for student-athletes. Judge Claudia Wilken's ruling follows a protracted legal battle initiated by Arizona State swimmer Grant House against the NCAA and its foremost conferences, aimed at dismantling revenue-sharing constraints. This comprehensive agreement enables institutions to allocate up to $20.5 million to athletes in the coming year and disburses $2.7 billion to past players long denied these earnings. Legal representative Steve Berman hailed this “monumental victory,” underscoring the athletes’ pivotal role in driving substantial revenue from sports, chiefly basketball and football. NCAA President Charlie Baker remarked that this paves the way for stabilizing the future of college sports.