CLEMSON — The NCAA vs House Settlement will go into effect on Tuesday, July 1, signaling a new era for college athletics. The settlement is supposed to mark a significant shift, formally ending the NCAA’s long-standing amateurism model and allowing for direct payment to athletes.

The settlement calls for damages to former athletes, too, as the NCAA, along with the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and the Pac 12 agreed to pay $2.8 billion in damages to former athletes who were prevented from earning compensation for their name, image and likeness (NIL) prior to 2021. This will be paid out over the next 10 years.

Starting on Tuesday, Division I schools that opt-in to the settlement can directly compensate student-athletes up to a revenue-sharing cap, initially set at $20.5 million per school. This cap is expected to increase annually.

The settlement also dealt with NIL rule modifications, as the NCAA can still restrict NIL payments from school-associated entities like booster collectives, while other third parties can enter NIL deals with student-athletes. These deals must be reported and approved by the school as part of a fair-market value.

However, the last part of the settlement might take a hit thanks to Friday’s United States Supreme Court ruling in the Trump v. CASA, Inc., case. This ruling primarily addressed the use of nationwide injunctions, a legal tool lower courts had used to block some of President Donald Trump’s policies. 

The ruling against nationwide injunctions affects the NCAA because many such injunctions have been granted against its rules in recent years, particularly in cases involving NIL. For example, a Tennessee federal district court had previously issued a nationwide injunction preventing the NCAA from enforcing its NIL rules.

While the House settlement aims for stability, potential future conflicts could arise, particularly related to Title IX and how revenue is distributed between male and female athletes.

Twelve female athletes are in the process of appealing the House settlement, which was finalized on June 6. The women are arguing the structure of damages payments violates Title IX’s gender equity statute.

On June 11, CBS Sports reported eight athletes have signed onto the motion to appeal and at least six of whom were women that played at the College of Charleston. Two others are from Vanderbilt and Virginia.

Despite the appeals, the NCAA is optimistic the settlement ruling by Judge Claudia Wilken will be upheld.

As CBS Sports reported, the House settlement used a formula to determine how to distribute money. Football and men’s basketball athletes who received full scholarships at Power Five schools from June 15, 2016, to Sept. 15, 2024, are set to receive 90 percent of the more than $2 billion settlement. Women’s basketball athletes will receive 5 percent, and all other athletes will split the remaining 5 percent. 

The female athletes filing the appeal are part of the third class. Most played volleyball or soccer at their respective schools.

Wilken wrote in the settlement approval that there’s nothing in the settlement itself that forces schools to contradict Title IX. She overruled objections that specifically claimed the settlement itself did not properly follow Title IX.

Instead, the settlement left the defining of Title IX compliance up to the schools and governing bodies.

In the NIL era, players relish the opportunities they receive to make a profit off their name, but there is one deal that might trump any other.

That is the ability to play as yourself in a video game, or more specifically, EA Sports’ latest installment, College Football 2026.

Advertisement

On Friday, incoming Colorado freshmen London Merritt and Mantrez Walker announced they’ll be in the soon-to-be-released game. The edge rusher and linebacker confirmed that their name, image and likeness will be included in the game, marking another milestone in their young careers.

EA Sports brought back the popular college football franchise last year to widespread excitement from fans and players alike, eager to jump back into the game. New to this year’s addition, all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision schools will be paid by EA Sports based on the frequency with which gamers play with their respective team. Real-life coaches are also being added to the game this year.

Merritt and Walker are both Georgia natives, with Merritt being a blue-chip prospect once committed to Ohio State. Merritt appears to have significant potential with the Buffs, who lost several key pieces to their defensive line, most notably star defensive end BJ Green.

Advertisement

Walker was a three-star prospect who has been with the Buffs for most of the offseason, but he projects as a likely depth piece entering his freshman season.

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: London Merritt, Mantrez Walker in EA Sports’ College Football 26

Julian Lewis, a freshman at Colorado Buffaloes, is being compared to NIL earners like Shedeur Sanders and Cooper Flagg, despite doubts about his potential. An article suggested Lewis could target $100 million in NIL earnings, but critics argue that this is unrealistic given the current landscape of college athletics. With an early NIL valuation of $1.1 million, a successful debut season could enhance his status, yet reaching Sanders’ $6.5 million from 2024 seems improbable. The investment focus for Colorado is shifting towards developing undervalued players rather than replicating past NIL spending. Operators in the college sports sector may require a significant overhaul for Lewis to approach such lofty financial figures.

By the Numbers

• Julian Lewis currently has an NIL valuation of $1.1 million.
• Shedeur Sanders earned $6.5 million in NIL deals in 2024.

Yes, But

While ambitious projections exist for Lewis, experts highlight that reaching such figures requires monumental changes in the college sports NIL framework. Detractors emphasize that current market conditions and potential federal regulations put long-term earnings at risk.

State of Play

• Colorado is shifting its investment strategy from high NIL spending to player development.
• Current NIL deals focus on enhancing player branding rather than reaching unprecedented sums.

What’s Next

The upcoming college season will be crucial for Lewis to establish his brand and boost his NIL valuation. Observers will watch how the Buffaloes adapt their strategy to balance player development with earnings potential.

Bottom Line

While Julian Lewis may have a promising start in NIL earnings, the notion of him reaching $100 million is highly speculative. The focus must shift towards sustainable growth and development in college athletics amidst evolving regulations and market dynamics.