Federal judge approves $2.8B settlement, paving way for U.S. colleges to pay athletes millions
By EDDIE PELLS A federal judge in Oakland signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports Friday, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions of dollars as soon as next month as the multibillion-dollar industry shreds the last vestiges of the amateur model that defined it […]
A federal judge in Oakland signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports Friday, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions of dollars as soon as next month as the multibillion-dollar industry shreds the last vestiges of the amateur model that defined it for more than a century.
Nearly five years after Arizona State swimmer Grant House sued the NCAA and its five biggest conferences to lift restrictions on revenue sharing, U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken approved the final proposal that had been hung up on roster limits, just one of many changes ahead amid concerns that thousands of walk-on athletes will lose their chance to play college sports.
The sweeping terms of the so-called House settlement include approval for each school to share up to $20.5 million with athletes over the next year and $2.7 billion that will be paid over the next decade to thousands of former players who were barred from that revenue for years.
The agreement brings a seismic shift to hundreds of schools that were forced to reckon with the reality that their players are the ones producing the billions in TV and other revenue, mostly through football and basketball, that keep this machine humming.
The scope of the changes — some have already begun — is difficult to overstate. The professionalization of college athletics will be seen in the high-stakes and expensive recruitment of stars on their way to the NFL and NBA, and they will be felt by athletes whose schools have decided to pare their programs. The agreement will resonate in nearly every one of the NCAA’s 1,100 member schools boasting nearly 500,000 athletes.
“Approving the agreement reached by the NCAA, the defendant conferences and student-athletes in the settlement opens a pathway to begin stabilizing college sports,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said.
The road to a settlement
Wilken’s ruling comes 11 years after she dealt the first significant blow to the NCAA ideal of amateurism when she ruled in favor of former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and others who were seeking a way to earn money from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) — a term that is now as common in college sports as “March Madness” or “Roll Tide.” It was just four years ago that the NCAA cleared the way for NIL money to start flowing, but the changes coming are even bigger.
Wilken granted preliminary approval to the settlement last October. That sent colleges scurrying to determine not only how they were going to afford the payments, but how to regulate an industry that also allows players to cut deals with third parties so long as they are deemed compliant by a newly formed enforcement group that will be run by auditors at Deloitte.
The agreement takes a big chunk of oversight away from the NCAA and puts it in the hands of the four biggest conferences. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC hold most of the power and decision-making heft, especially when it comes to the College Football Playoff, which is the most significant financial driver in the industry and is not under the NCAA umbrella like the March Madness tournaments are.
Roster limits held things up
The deal looked ready to go since last fall, but Wilken put a halt to it after listening to a number of players who had lost their spots because of newly imposed roster limits being placed on teams.
The limits were part of a trade-off that allowed the schools to offer scholarships to everyone on the roster, instead of only a fraction, as has been the case for decades. Schools started cutting walk-ons in anticipation of the deal being approved.
Wilken asked for a solution and, after weeks, the parties decided to let anyone cut from a roster — now termed a “Designated Student-Athlete” — return to their old school or play for a new one without counting against the new limit.
Wilken ultimately agreed, going point-by-point through the objectors’ arguments to explain why they didn’t hold up.
“The modifications provide Designated Student-Athletes with what they had prior to the roster limits provisions being implemented, which was the opportunity to be on a roster at the discretion of a Division I school,” Wilken wrote.
Her decision, however, took nearly a month to write, leaving the schools and conferences in limbo — unsure if the plans they’d been making for months, really years, would go into play.
“It remains to be seen how this will impact the future of inter-collegiate athletics — but as we continue to evolve, Carolina remains committed to providing outstanding experiences and broad-based programming to student-athletes,” North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said.
Winners and losers
The list of winners and losers is long and, in some cases, hard to tease out.
A rough guide of winners would include football and basketball stars at the biggest schools, which will devote much of their bankroll to signing and retaining them. For instance, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s NIL deal is reportedly worth between $10.5 million and $12 million.
Losers, despite Wilken’s ruling, figure to be at least some of the walk-ons and partial scholarship athletes whose spots are gone.
Also in limbo are Olympic sports many of those athletes play and that serve as the main pipeline for a U.S. team that has won the most medals at every Olympics since the downfall of the Soviet Union.
All this is a price worth paying, according to the attorneys who crafted the settlement and argue they delivered exactly what they were asked for: an attempt to put more money in the pockets of the players whose sweat and toil keep people watching from the start of football season through March Madness and the College World Series in June.
What the settlement does not solve is the threat of further litigation.
Though this deal brings some uniformity to the rules, states still have separate laws regarding how NIL can be doled out, which could lead to legal challenges. NCAA President Charlie Baker has been consistent in pushing for federal legislation that would put college sports under one rulebook and, if he has his way, provide some form of antitrust protection to prevent the new model from being disrupted again.
Penn State men’s hockey releases 2025-26 nonconference slate | Sports
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Fresh off its first Frozen Four appearance, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team announced its 10-game nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season earlier this week. The Nittany Lions open their 2025-26 campaign away from Pegula Ice Arena for the third straight season with a trip to Arizona State Oct. 3-4. […]
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Fresh off its first Frozen Four appearance, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team announced its 10-game nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season earlier this week.
The Nittany Lions open their 2025-26 campaign away from Pegula Ice Arena for the third straight season with a trip to Arizona State Oct. 3-4. The Sun Devils were the first team out of the 2025 NCAA tournament after finishing the 2024-25 season No. 15 in the Pairwise Rankings. Arizona State finished second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference during the regular season, advancing all the way to the Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul, Minnesota before losing to Denver during its inaugural season in the league.
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Legendary Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announced her retirement on Wednesday, July 16. She has been the head of the team since 1990. Over her 36 seasons with the program, Plocki transformed the Wolverines from a team which struggled to put together winning seasons into one of only eight teams to ever win the NCAA […]
Legendary Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki announced her retirement on Wednesday, July 16. She has been the head of the team since 1990.
Over her 36 seasons with the program, Plocki transformed the Wolverines from a team which struggled to put together winning seasons into one of only eight teams to ever win the NCAA women’s gymnastics championship, which they accomplished in 2021.
“”It’s hard to put into words what this moment means to me,” Plocki said in a statement. “At 23 years old, I was just a young woman with a passion for gymnastics and a dream, when three incredible leaders — Bo Schembechler, Jack Weidenbach and Phyllis Ocker — took a chance on me. They believed in me before I had proven anything, and because of their faith, I’ve had the privilege of spending my entire career here at the University of Michigan.”
A native of Butler, Pennsylvania, Plocki began with the Wolverines in 1990, elevated from an assistant job she held at West Virginia to the head coach position with a Big Ten team. The team went 2-19 the year before Plocki was hired. In her first year with the team, they went 7-15 and were a 20-win team by her third year.
In her tenure as the Michigan head coach, Plocki led the Wolverines to 26 Big Ten championships – the most by any coach in any sport in the conference. Seven of them came consecutively between 1999 and 2005. Michigan has also seen eight Big Ten regular-season titles, 26 NCAA championship appearances and 10 NCAA Super Sixes.
Part of Plocki’s work as the Wolverines’ head coach was in recruiting and improving the caliber of gymnast the program attracted. Beth Wymer became the program’s first NCAA All-American in 1992, and the program has since added 52 more. Gymnasts have also received 191 All-Big Ten honors. Plocki has coached 14 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and 13 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Plocki has been recognized for her coaching prowess numerous times over the years. She’s garnered 11 Big Ten Coach of the Year awards, 13 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards and is a two-time National Coach of the Year, earned in 1994 and 2021.
Michigan has not announced who will succeed Plocki as head coach.
Contact Matthew Auchincloss at mauchincloss@freepress.com.
Wayne State University announces addition of women's varsity soccer team
Story Links Wayne State release Courtesy of Wayne State Athletic Communications DETROIT — Wayne State University announced today that it will add women’s soccer as a varsity sport beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This is the first varsity sport added by the university in more than a decade. “We’re excited to build on the […]
DETROIT — Wayne State University announced today that it will add women’s soccer as a varsity sport beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This is the first varsity sport added by the university in more than a decade.
“We’re excited to build on the enthusiasm and momentum at Wayne State with the addition of a women’s varsity soccer team,” said WSU President Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy. “Athletics plays a key role in enabling college access and success, providing opportunities for students to develop career enhancing skills that fuel our regional workforce, and creating a vibrant campus for our community. We all look forward to cheering the program on to triumphs both in the classroom and on the field.”
The new team will create additional pathways for student-athletes to attend Wayne State, develop marketable skills and represent the Warriors on the field. The team will compete within the NCAA Division II as part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Home matches will be played on the lit turf field adjacent to Tom Adams Field, with improvements planned to enhance the overall training and game-day experience for athletes and fans.
“Wayne State Athletics is proud to introduce women’s varsity soccer — a transformative addition that reflects our deep commitment to opportunity under Title IX and our mission to provide high-level avenues for student-athletes to thrive academically, athletically and personally,” said Erika Wallace, WSU Director of Athletics. “Wayne State Athletics offers the unique academic opportunity to learn, live and compete in Detroit — a city that passionately loves its sports. At a time when many institutions are reevaluating their athletic offerings, we are excited to expand and enhance the student and community experience with a new varsity sport.”
With the addition of women’s soccer, Wayne State will sponsor 11 women’s teams and eight men’s teams, extending the university’s dedication to Title IX and providing opportunities for all student-athletes. The announcement comes as soccer continues to gain popularity among athletes and audiences of all ages and backgrounds, with youth participation including more than 90,000 players ages 4 to 19 in Michigan alone according to the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association. Wayne State University recently announced a unique partnership with Detroit City Football Club (DCFC) and has fielded club soccer teams for 17 years.
‘Student athletes are highly engaged on campus and in the community. Their experiences on the field help them cultivate both academic success and career-ready skills, including leadership, mentorship, persistence, and collaboration,” said Lauie M. Lauzon Clabo, WSU provost and executive president for academic affairs. “As an institution of opportunity, Wayne State is proud to offer new pathways to access higher education that prepare students with these lifelong skills.”
Warrior student-athletes are frequently recognized for academic excellence and nationally ranked for their community service, and benefit from robust student support services and partnerships with leaders in Detroit sports, including The Detroit Pistons, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, DCFC and more. This spring, the university announced a new partnership with Opendorse to provide Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) resources for student-athletes.
The university seeks to hire a head coach by the end of summer, with preparations underway for competition in the fall of 2026. Qualified candidates interested in applying for the position can learn more and apply HERE.
• Of the current 300-plus members of NCAA Division II, including provisional and candidacy schools, 259 offer women’s soccer, including nine of the current GLIAC members (only Lake Superior State will not sponsor women’s soccer once WSU’s program commences).
• The GLIAC has traditionally played a 14-game conference schedule preceded by two weekends of non-league competition.
• Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams advance to the GLIAC tournament which runs Tuesday through Sunday in mid-November.
• The GLIAC has had three different tournament champions in the last four years (Ferris State in 2021, Grand Valley State in 2022, and Northern Michigan in 2023 and 2024).
• The NCAA started sponsoring a women’s soccer championship in 1988 with GVSU having the most national titles (7).
• Twenty-two (22) current Division 2 schools in the Midwest Region have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Currently the top seven squads (three automatic bids and four at-large) advance to the NCAA Tournament each year from the Midwest Region which consists of 35 schools (nine from the GLIAC, 11 from the G-MAC and 15 from the GLVC).
• Women’s soccer is the first sport added by WSU since women’s golf began during the 2014-15 academic year.
St. John Fisher Baseball Standout Mario Cubello Named 2024-25 Empire 8 Man of the Year
Baseball | 7/16/2025 9:59:30 AM
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Mario Cubello, a four-year member of the St. John. Fisher University baseball team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Conference’s Man of the Year. This award honors a senior male student-athlete who has distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics […]
Mario Cubello, a four-year member of the St. John. Fisher University baseball team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Conference’s Man of the Year. This award honors a senior male student-athlete who has distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
Cubello recently graduated Magna Cum Laude with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.99 as a biology major with a minor in chemistry. He was named St. John Fisher’s 2025 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and won the institution’s prestigious 2024-25 Michael Cerame “Coach C” Excellence in Leadership and Dedication Award. In addition, he won the 2024 Empire 8 Baseball Torchbearer Award for academic excellence.
Cubello, who shuffled primarily between second base and right field in 2025, enjoyed a tremendous senior season, earning All-Empire 8 first team accolades and D3baseball.com All-Region second team accolades. Cubello led the Cardinals in home runs (8), walks (41), slugging percentage (.627), on-base percentage (.566) and stolen bases (22 in 23 attempts) during the 2025 season. He finished second on the team in batting average (.382) and fourth in RBI (30). Overall, Cubello led the Empire 8 in both walks and on-base percentage and was second with a tremendous 1.193 OPS and tied for second in stolen bases.
“I am both humbled and honored to be recognized as the Empire 8 Man of the Year,” said Cubello. “I want to express my great appreciation to the Empire 8 Conference, not only for this incredible honor, but for the exceptional platform they provide all of the student-athletes within the conference to compete. It has been a privilege to compete here and an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.
To St. John Fisher, I am endlessly grateful for the extraordinary student-athlete experience they have provided us. For four years Fisher has provided me everything needed and more to excel both in the classroom and on the field. I am forever proud to wear the Cardinals uniform. I also want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to Coach Brandon Potter, Dave Roth, and Bobby Papalouizos for their instrumental role in my journey. Their dedication to my growth and development not only as a player, but as a person, has been vital to my success at Fisher and will continue to guide me in my future endeavors.”
Academically, Cubello was an eight-time Empire 8 President’s List selection, eight-time St. John Fisher Dean’s List recipient and earned High Honors accolades. In addition, he was a two-year President of Fisher’s Upsilon Rho Chapter of Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society and was a 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Baseball Team selection.
“Mario’s effort, dedication, determination, and commitment to the classroom and field are always impressive,” said St. John Fisher Head Baseball Coach Brandon Potter. “He’s made a forever impression on teammates, coaches, and the baseball program. As great as Mario is in the classroom and on the diamond, he’s a greater teammate and person.”
Cubello was President of St. John Fisher’s Pre-Health Club, where he organized meet and greets/information sessions with nearby New York and Pennsylvania medical schools. He also was a student health ambassador, devoted to promoting wellness and educating the Fisher campus community on a wide range of health topics. Cubello was also a member of the American Cancer Society on campus, while fundraising and spreading awareness about cancer to the campus community.
He served as an emergency room volunteer at both Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and Albany Memorial Hospital. Cubello was also a Schenectady Ole Timers Baseball Club Skills Camp Volunteer and three-year volunteer at the Albany Dutchmen Youth Baseball Camps.
“Mario leads by example,” said Jen Granger, St. John Fisher University Director of Athletics. “His work ethic, character, teamwork and intelligence are what you hope for in a student athlete as they lead to success on and off the field.”
In four seasons at St. John Fisher, Cubello, a native of Bethlehem, NY, hit .340 with 58 runs scored, nine home runs and 40 RBI. He stole 22 bases and recorded a career 1.071 OPS. St. John Fisher won 120 games in his four seasons, won three Empire 8 Championships, and made three NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Tournament appearances.
“Mario is a tremendous representative of St. John Fisher University and the Empire 8 on and off the field,” said Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner Joe Venniro. “Mario showed that not only did his hard work and perseverance throughout four years paid off on the field, while his work in the classroom and leadership roles within the St. John Fisher community were spectacular. He is very deserving winner of the E8’s Man of the Year award.”
Cubello will now be forwarded to the national DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Male Athlete of the Year award. He led a strong contingent of nine outstanding nominees considered by the Empire 8 Man of the Year Committee. Brian Scoville, Utica University All-American hockey player was the 2024 E8 Man of the Year. Cubello’s former teammate Noah Campanelli, was named the 2023 Empire 8 Man of the Year and DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Male Athlete of the Year.
2024-25 Empire 8 Man of the Year Finalists
Mario Cubello, Baseball, St. John Fisher University
Luke Insley, Basketball, Nazareth University
Joe Johnson, Lacrosse, Russell Sage College
Sebastian Knowles, Swimming and Diving, Hartwick College
Evan Kurtz, Track and Field, Houghton University
William LaMastus, Swimming and Diving, Alfred University
Anthony Lapine, Baseball, SUNY Brockport
Joe Vogt, Soccer, SUNY Geneseo
Matt Wood, Ice Hockey, Utica University
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY: Former Hobart captains sign pro contracts | Sports
Two former captains of Hobart hockey recently signed professional contracts to play in Europe. Defenseman Cooper Swift signed with the Pingouins de Morzine-Avoriaz in the French Division I Hockey League just days before Artem Buzoverya signed with the Coventry Blaze of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the top hockey league in Great Britain. As captain, […]
Two former captains of Hobart hockey recently signed professional contracts to play in Europe. Defenseman Cooper Swift signed with the Pingouins de Morzine-Avoriaz in the French Division I Hockey League just days before Artem Buzoverya signed with the Coventry Blaze of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the top hockey league in Great Britain.
As captain, Swift played in 29 games this past season, guiding the Statesmen to a third straight NCAA Division III national championship. An All-NEHC second-team selection, he had 17 points on 17 assists. Swift earned a spot on the NEHC All-Tournament team and played a key role in Hobart’s defense that was first in the nation in scoring defense (1.01) and a penalty killing unit that was eighth in the nation (.871). Swift led the Statesmen with 21 blocked shots. He recorded a season-high three blocked shots in the season opener.
“I can’t say enough about Swifty,” head coach Mark Taylor said. “He’s been a great player for us since his arrival. Just a quality person, awesome teammate and an outstanding leader, evident in being an assistant captain and captain of two championship teams. He’s also a highly decorated and achieved student along with athletic successes that set a great example for others to follow.
“I’m so happy for him with this well-deserved opportunity to continue his athletic career and having personally been to Morzine, in the French Alps region, what a beautiful part of the world to be living in. Good things happen to good people that earn it, and he certainly has.”
In total, Swift played in 102 career games for Hobart, compiling 56 points on four goals and 52 assists. Defensively, he blocked 92 shots. An assistant captain during his junior year, Swift helped lead a Statesmen defense that set the program season mark for GAA (0.93), the second best mark in NCAA Division III. Swift and the Statesmen also broke the NCAA Division III record for penalty-killing percentage (.968), allowing just three goals in 95 shorthanded situations. Swift helped guide Hobart to a 106-11-4 overall record, four NCAA tournament appearances, four NEHC regular season titles and three NEHC Tournament titles.
Swift excelled in the classroom, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics. He is a three-time Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators, earning first- team recognition twice. Swift is a three-time AHCA All-American Scholar and a three-time NEHC All-Academic pick. In 2023, he won the NCAA Elite 90 Award as the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing on championship weekend.
Buzoverya played 90 games for the Statesmen. After missing his first year season, which was canceled due to COVID, he led the Statesmen to a 77-10-3 record, including back-to-back national championships in 2023 and ‘24. Buzoverya compiled 70 points on 20 goals and 50 assists. He made three appearances in the NCAA tournament, winning the national championship as an assistant captain in ‘23 and a captain in ‘24. A center, Buzoverya won 1,009 faceoffs during his career.
Buzoverya saved his best for his senior season, recording a career-high 31 points on eight goals and 23 assists while playing on Hobart’s top line. He was named a second- team All-American and was the runner-up for the Sid Watson Award. He was named the New England Hockey Conference’s Player of the Year and was the Most Valuable Player of the NEHC Tournament. In Hobart’s epic four-overtime game against Curry in the NCAA quarterfinals, he won 40 of his 49 faceoffs.
“I’m not surprised to see Artem sign in the top English league,” Taylor said. “He was having a great year until his injury, and it was obvious the Coventry coach recognized that and didn’t hesitate. Artem has elevated every season wherever he has been, and I really believe he has much more game ahead of him. He was a huge part of our program and our successes in so many ways, it’s nice to see it rewarded but it is also great that this will put him in easier proximity to see his family.”
A native of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Buzoverya excelled in the classroom as well. The 2023-24 Liberty League Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, and Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international economics honor society. He was a four-time AHCA All-American Scholar, a three time NEHC All-Academic team selection and was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team twice.
Buzoverya spent the 2024-25 season, his final year of collegiate eligibility, at Bentley. He played in 32 games for the Falcons, recording 15 points on six goals and nine assists. He led Bentley with a 57.4 faceoff winning percentage. The Falcons went 23-15-2, winning the Atlantic Hockey Championship. Bentley competed in the NCAA tournament taking on Boston College in the opening round of the Manchester Regional.
“I couldn’t be happier for Arty to sign a pro contract in England,” Bentley Assistant Coach and former Hobart assistant Tom Fiorentino said. “His determination, work ethic and sportsmanship are truly unmatched. At every step of the way, Arty has been able to elevate his game for the next level and I have no doubt that he’ll do the same in Coventry. I’m really proud of all that he’s had to overcome in hockey and in life and look forward to watching him take this step into professional hockey.”
Fiorentino coached Buzoverya for two seasons at Hobart before moving to Bentley prior to the 2023-24 season. The duo was reunited last season in Waltham, Massachusetts, for the 2024-25 season.
Greg Sankey reacts to report of President Donald Trump NIL executive order
Greg Sankey reacted to the latest report surrounding President Donald Trump reportedly set to sign an executive order to establish national standards for NIL in college athletics. The SEC commissioner admitted he didn’t have any additional inside information. What Sankey did offer Wednesday morning is that President Trump’s support is real and congressional activities in […]
Greg Sankey reacted to the latest report surrounding President Donald Trump reportedly set to sign an executive order to establish national standards for NIL in college athletics. The SEC commissioner admitted he didn’t have any additional inside information. What Sankey did offer Wednesday morning is that President Trump’s support is real and congressional activities in general are still a priority for college athletics figureheads.
“I don’t think that’s a terribly articulate tweet,” Sankey said on SEC This Morning, referencing the originally tweeted report by CBS News. “The NCAA doesn’t have a name, image, and likeness plan specifically. I mean, in college athletics, we have something, so the attribution is an error. The President clearly has an interest in sports, big picture, has an interest in college sports. has been at our games. The notion of an executive order has been mentioned before. There were some reports of a commission or an executive order back to like, April, I think, is when that started to bubble. So we’ll wait and see.”
Sankey previously played golf with the President to discuss these issues. While it seems like there’s some progress behind the scenes, there’s nothing set in ston.
“It’s not a secret, I had a chance to visit with the President, along with Pete Bevacqua, the athletics director at Notre Dame,” Sankey said. “We met and played golf at Bedminster, and his interest is real. My takeaway, he wants to be supportive of college athletics, make sure that it’s sustainable, the Olympic program and the Olympic development.
Greg Sankey reacts to latest report of President Donald Trump, NIL
“Work that’s done on college campuses was on his mind. The support of women’s athletics was on his mind, but having some kind of real boundaries, and we’ve been in active conversations. And I talked to members of Congress yesterday as they look at a bill in the House of Representatives, went through a subcommittee markup, this is all the gobbledygook. I think those congressional activities are still a real priority for us.”
According to the CBS News report referenced by Sankey, Jennifer Jacobs and Ed O’Keefe reported “(President) Trump is engaging on an issue that has quickly reshaped and, in many ways, roiled college athletics after a House subcommittee on Tuesday advanced a bill along party lines that would establish national standards for sponsorships. The legislation, called the “SCORE Act,” would supersede a patchwork of state laws regulating Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL.”
Sankey made a point that there have been reports before, but nothing seems official to this point. But one thing’s for sure, the President will be, or attempt to be, involved in some sort of fashion.
“There have been reports about a commission, executive order before. You actually have to see if something happens, and then if something happens, what is included,” Sankey said. “I don’t have any inside information about what generated those reports late last evening.”
