Federal judge asked to give preliminary approval to $2.78 billion NCAA antitrust settlement

A California judge was scheduled to consider preliminary approval on Thursday. $2.78 billion settlement three antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and major conferences, the first step in a long process that could lead to college athletes receiving cut off billions television revenues that go to their schools.

Attorneys for both sides were scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in Oakland, Calif. Wilken could issue a ruling as early as Thursday, but it is more likely to take several days.

The NCAA and five power conferences agreed in May decide the case of the House of Representatives against the NCAA and two similar cases challenging the rules regarding the remuneration of university athletes.

Under the agreement, the NCAA must foot the bill for nearly $3 billion in compensation paid to former and current college athletes who have been denied the right to earn money off their name, image and likeness since 2016.

As part of the settlement, the conferences agreed to a revenue-sharing plan that will allow each school to distribute about $21 million to athletes starting next season — if the settlement is ultimately approved.

The preliminary approval allows plaintiffs to begin notifying thousands of former and current college athletes that they have the right to seek compensation or challenge the terms. That could begin in about two weeks.

The court has already received objections, including one from a plaintiff in another case. Colorado Athlete Compensation Case who declined to participate in the settlement. A group of former Division I women’s players is also challenging the settlement, arguing that compensation will be unfairly paid primarily to football and basketball players.

Two college athlete advocacy groups that support player organizing and collective bargaining as part of a new compensation model have taken action different approaches to settlement.

Last week, the National College Players’ Association called the settlement “unfair” and said it would work to prevent its approval. Athletes.org, which says it has nearly 4,000 college athletes as members, said it supports the settlement as an important first step but would like to see some terms changed before it is implemented.

The NCAA and college sports leaders are already working on how to implement the revenue-sharing plan — including hiring an outside third party to enforce some of the terms. The preliminary approval provides a modicum of certainty, but implementation work will still need to be done while Wilken waits for final approval.

The earliest this could happen would be 150 days after the notices are sent to class members.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo on https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season long. Sign Up Here. AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll AND https://apnews.com/hub/college-football