NCAA Antitrust Settlement: Impact on Non-Football Conferences Explained

This week marks a pivotal moment in college athletics as the NCAA and its conferences grapple with three antitrust cases while debating funding for $2.8 billion in back pay for the use of former student-athletes’ names, images and likenesses.

By the numbers

• The NCAA will fund 41% ($1.1 billion) of the back pay, and schools will contribute $1.65 billion over the decade.
• The power conferences will pay $644 million in damages, while the non-power conferences will foot the bill of $990 million.

Yes but

Power Conference student-athletes will receive 90% of back NIL salaries, but non-football conferences say the burden sharing is unfair.

Game status

• ACC and Big 12 approve settlement, Power 5 conferences vote, shaping the future landscape of college athletics.
• Non-football leagues are criticizing the distribution formula, anticipating financial burdens resulting from the settlement.

What’s next

Energy conferences are expected to actively engage on the issue of post-settlement NIL compensation, which could deepen financial disparities.

Bottom line

The NCAA antitrust settlement highlights financial disparities between power and non-power conferences, signaling a significant shift in collegiate athletics funding and future compensation models.