The culmination of a lengthy legal battle between the NCAA, five major conferences, and plaintiffs seeking justice over antitrust concerns has finally reached a resolution. The case, centered on a $2.8 billion lawsuit, took five years to reach a settlement agreement, and now the attention turns to executing its terms.
Key dates have been outlined to guide this settlement phase:
On June 6, 2025, the settlement will receive official approval. On this date, new NCAA-related rules, which were put into place by the NCAA Division I Board on April 21, 2025, will come into effect. These rules are an essential part of the agreement and aim to adjust the operational structures within college sports.
Shortly after, on June 11, 2025, the NIL Go portal will be formally launched. This portal will likely play a significant role in managing Name, Image, and Likeness activities, which have been a contentious topic in collegiate athletics.
By June 15, 2025, an important deadline looms for non-defendant schools. These institutions have until this date to opt-in fully if they wish to commit to the revenue-sharing model prescribed by the settlement.
The first substantial changes in financial operations will occur on July 1, 2025, when colleges and universities are scheduled to begin issuing direct revenue-sharing payments to their student-athletes. This marks a significant shift in how student-athletes are compensated for their contributions.
On July 6, 2025, schools that opt into the settlement must identify and “designate” those student-athletes allowed to surpass traditional roster limits, in line with the settlement terms. This condition provides certain athletes with potential advantages in their collegiate careers.
As the 2025-26 academic year commences, compliance with roster limitations will also see changes. By the first competition day of fall sports, all teams, aside from those with “designated” athletes, must adhere to newly established roster limits.
For winter and spring sports, this regulation takes effect on either their first day of competition or December 1, 2025, whichever comes first. This deadline ensures that the terms of the settlement are uniformly applied across all sports seasons.
The completion of this settlement marks a transformative moment for collegiate sports, setting a precedent for how similar legal matters might be handled in the future.