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House settlement FAQ

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6 months ago

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House settlement FAQ

A federal judge approved the settlement of the House v. NCAA class-action lawsuit on Friday, permanently changing the landscape of college athletics. In short, the settlement:

  1. Allows for direct revenue sharing from schools to athletes with a cap.

  2. Allocates $2.8 billion for NIL back pay to current and former athletes over the next 10 years.

  3. Limits the number of roster spots for college teams.

Here’s how the settlement will impact NCAA Division I schools moving forward, and some refreshers on the state of modern college athletics.

» READ MORE: Big changes coming in college sports after Federal judge approves settlement. Here’s what to know.

Name, image, and likeness deals

College athletes are able to receive third-party compensation generated by their personal brand, otherwise known as their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

After a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that decided the NCAA was in violation of antitrust laws, the top governing body for college athletics changed the rules that prohibited third-party payment to athletes.

Since July 1, 2021, athletes have been able to receive financial compensation through NIL endorsements.

Is there a difference between revenue sharing and NIL payments?

Yes. As outlined in the House settlement, revenue sharing will allow schools to directly compensate athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness. There is a cap on the amount of funds schools will be able to distribute annually. The limit is estimated to be $20.5 million this season, although the figure is not official yet.

Athletes will still be eligible to receive NIL compensation from third parties on top of any compensation they may receive from their athletic departments.

The Ivy League said in January that the conference would not opt in to the revenue sharing agreement outlined in the House settlement. However, Ivy athletes will still be able to benefit from third-party NIL opportunities.

NIL opportunities from university-associated collectives must be paid “for a valid business purpose” at “fair market value rates,” according to Temple’s House settlement FAQ page. The House settlement establishes NIL Go, a clearinghouse overseen by Deloitte. Athletes will report their NIL deals worth at least $600 on the platform, and NIL Go will confirm that the deals are within the rules.

When can athletes enter the transfer portal?

It varies by sport. Windows for fall sports typically open in late November or early December and close in late December or early January. For winter sports, portal periods usually begin in March and close anywhere from mid-April to mid-May. Spring sports windows typically open in early May and close by late May or June.

Can an athlete transfer and play the next season?

Yes. In April 2024, the NCAA adopted new transfer rules that permitted athletes to transfer between schools and be immediately eligible to play, regardless of how many times they had transferred.

Before that change, athletes were required to redshirt after their second transfer, as well as any potential following moves. The NCAA’s rules regarding transfers have relaxed since 2021, when it adopted the second-transfer redshirt rule. Before then, athletes who transferred were deemed ineligible for the following season and forced to redshirt.

» READ MORE: Villanova’s basketball team should benefit from the NIL settlement, but little else is immediately clear

What does the House settlement do?

The House settlement will impact college sports in three main ways. It establishes a direct revenue-sharing model between D-I schools and their athletes, allocates $2.8 billion in NIL back pay to be paid out to former and current college athletes, and creates roster limits for all teams.

Starting July 1, athletic departments will be able to compensate athletes directly from their revenues. The $20.5 million cap figure is an estimate of 22% of the average athletic revenue of a power-conference institution, and will act as a hard cap on direct spending for high-revenue athletic departments.

The NCAA and its schools will distribute NIL back pay to approximately 400,000 current and former athletes over the next 10 years. Of the $2.8 billion, 60% will be funded through reduced revenue distribution, while the NCAA will generate the remaining 40% on its own.

The settlement places firm roster limits on opted-in Division I teams for 2025-26 season. At the suggestion of the judge overseeing final approval, Claudia Wilken, the settlement has been revised to protect the spots of athletes currently on rosters, athletes who were cut this year, or high school athletes who were promised a spot, only to see it eliminated.

Does every school have to follow the House settlement?

No. Schools in the ACC, Big 10, Big XII and SEC are required to adhere to the terms of the settlement, and all in those conferences have indicated the intent to do so. The remaining Division I schools have until June 15 to decide whether to opt in or out of the settlement.

In the Big 5, Temple and Drexel have publicly stated the intent to opt in. Villanova, La Salle, and St. Joseph’s are all expected to do so as well. As a member of the Ivy League, Penn will opt out of the terms of the settlement. It will be unable to share revenue with its athletes.

» READ MORE: Temple opts into House v. NCAA settlement, setting the stage for revenue sharing on North Broad

What happens next?

There is a potential for more legal movement to further impact the landscape of college athletics. The House settlement does not address whether athletes can be classified as employees, an idea that has been examined by Johnson v. NCAA. The case, brought by former Villanova football player Trey Johnson, remains in litigation.

The NCAA and its president, Charlie Baker, have led an effort to lobby Congress in favor of a bill that would grant antitrust protection to the NCAA, based on the terms of the House settlement. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has been pushing a bill that would introduce regulations to college sports since the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in January.

Regardless of further legal movement, the effects of the House settlement will change the way athletic departments, individual teams, and college sports operate.

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Memphis HC Penny Hardaway: I ‘Fined’ Aaron Bradshaw NIL Money to Motivate Him

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26 seconds ago

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December 19, 2025

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How do you get somebody’s attention? Well, one way to get a college basketball player’s attention is by taking away their NIL money, like Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway did with junior forward Aaron Bradshaw.

“Aaron Bradshaw has played for some great coaching staffs, but they haven’t figured out how to motivate him, so Penny Hardaway found a way to motivate Aaron Bradshaw. He started taking his NIL money away,” it was revealed on the broadcast of the Tigers’ Wednesday night loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores. 

“He said, ‘I fined him for showing up late. I fined him for violating our dress code. Three grand here, three grand there. Guess who started to show up early? Guess who started to put the effort in?’ … He [Hardaway] takes that fine money and puts it back in the bucket and has some guys further down the roster reaping the cash benefit of those fines.”

Message received.

Memphis is the third stop for Bradshaw in his collegiate career, with the former five-star recruit spending his freshman season at Kentucky (2023-24) and sophomore season at Ohio State (2024-25). Through nine games this season, six of which he has started, Bradshaw is averaging a career-high 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game, while shooting 50.0% from the field.

Hardaway, who starred at Memphis for two seasons as a player (1991-92, 1992-93), is in his eighth season as the Tigers’ head coach, with Memphis a combined 166-74 under him since the 2018-19 season, highlighted by two American Tournament titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances. However, Memphis is off to a 4-6 start this season, with three of its six losses being against ranked opponents in Purdue, Louisville and Vanderbilt.

Maybe if Hardaway takes away the entire team’s NIL dough, Memphis will run the table in conference play?

MORE COLLEGE HOOPS: Last Night in College Basketball: No. 13 Vanderbilt Passed OT Test vs. Memphis

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Joel Klatt can’t stand NIL re-signing announcements

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December 19, 2025

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Texas Tech Linked to $2.4 Million College Football Transfer Quarterback

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2 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the BYU Cougars 34-7 in the Big 12 Championship Game. It secured them the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. They’ll play either the No. 12 seed James Madison Dukes or No. 5 seed Oregon Ducks in the Orange Bowl.

While Texas Tech strives for its first national championship in program history, it’s never too early to look into the future. The Red Raiders will face several major changes after the 2025 season, including from quarterback, Behren Morton. He’s using his final year of eligibility, while ESPN’s Matt Miller gives him a fifth-round grade in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Jan. 2, but On3 reports that over 800 players are already set to enter. With Morton set to leave, Texas Tech could find his replacement in the portal.

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire.James Snook-Imagn Images

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire.James Snook-Imagn Images

In an article, On3’s Pete Nakos, links the Red Raiders to Cincinnati Bearcats transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby.

“Viewed as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the transfer portal, Texas Tech is the school to watch early on for Brendan Sorsby,” Nakos wrote. “He’s also expected to evaluate the NFL draft, and Indiana and Tennessee are other schools to know.”

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This season, Sorsby has completed 207 of 336 passes for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 155.1 passer rating. He’s also rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 carries.

Sorsby is going to be highly sought after, with Rivals placing him as the third-ranked player in the transfer portal. His On3 NIL valuation of $2.4 million is tied for the 10th-highest in college football.

However, that may not be a problem for Texas Tech, which had the top-ranked transfer portal class in 2025. After bringing in 21 players, the Red Raiders had an adjusted NIL value of $7.6 million.

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As the official transfer portal period approaches, Texas Tech’s quarterback situation will be one to watch. With Morton playing his final year of eligibility, the Red Raiders could already be exploring other options.

The Red Raiders will play in the Orange Bowl at noon ET Jan. 1 on ESPN and the ESPN app.

Related: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed Shares NIL Update Before College Football Playoff

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.



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Anonymous coach names biggest fraud in the College Football Playoff

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3 hours ago

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December 19, 2025

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There’s always plenty of argument about who belongs and doesn’t belong in the College Football Playoff, and that was certainly the case this season, especially given the debates around that final spot coming between Notre Dame and Miami.

But looking over the 2025 bracket, it’s one of the most recognizable SEC programs that is getting the biggest criticism from those in the coaching business.

Asked to name the biggest fraud in this year’s College Football Playoff, it wasn’t one of the Group of Five teams that got the most attention, but none other than Ole Miss, which made the field on the back of a historic season.

Ole Miss, a fraud?

That’s according to one FBS coach, who doesn’t believe the Rebels have a good case.

“They’ve had so many distractions with Lane Kiffin leaving, and Oklahoma is probably their only good win this year,” an unnamed Group of Five head coach said of the Rebels heading into the College Football Playoff, according to The Athletic.

Whoever it was who said it, he apparently wasn’t alone. Far from it.

Taking a vote from more than two dozen anonymous coaches heading into the playoff, the publication found that to be, if not a consensus opinion, then something like it.

Ole Miss won out among the various playoff teams with 29 percent of respondents saying it was the most fraudulent team in the College Football Playoff this season.

A wild year for Ole Miss

Picking on the Rebels for not being playoff-worthy sounds counter-intuitive, given the unprecedentedly good season they’ve had on the field.

For the first time ever, Ole Miss completed an 11-win regular season and qualified for its first College Football Playoff berth.

Then came the drama. The head coach who brought them that success became the biggest name in what emerged as college football’s most hectic coaching carousel.

Lane Kiffin was named as the leading target for two other SEC programs and ultimately departed the Rebels for conference rival LSU after winning the Egg Bowl game.

Coach highlights Rebels’ schedule

The concern around Ole Miss’ perceived quality of schedule doesn’t seem like a concern at first glance.

It played three teams that made the College Football Playoff, beating both Oklahoma and Tulane, and losing a closely-fought matchup on the road against SEC champion Georgia.

Otherwise, the Rebels beat lesser SEC opponents like Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Arkansas.

The win against then-No. 4 LSU doesn’t look as good as it did at the time, given the Tigers’ fall from grace that led to Brian Kelly’s ouster.

There was no universe in which an 11-1 Ole Miss was being left out of the College Football Playoff. Whether it truly belongs will be decided on the field, which can be said for any team in the bracket.

But the Rebels weren’t alone

Not far behind in the fraud poll were two surprising names. Big 12 champion Texas Tech and SEC runner-up Alabama were both decried as playoff frauds with 17 percent of the vote each.

Texas Tech being included is truly puzzling, given the quality of its defense, but those asked expressed concern for the offense, in particular quarterback Behren Morton.

In second place was “no answer,” as 21 percent of those asked didn’t provide any hints as to who they thought were frauds.

Group of Five selection James Madison received 8 percent of the vote as a perceived fraud, while Oregon and Oklahoma each got 4 percent.

Alabama not getting respect

One defensive coordinator from the SEC and a defensive assistant from the Big Ten took issue with the Crimson Tide being included among the dozen playoff teams this year.

“Alabama should have, like, five losses this year. They shouldn’t be there,” the SEC defensive coordinator said.

And the Big Ten coach added: “I’ve watched them. They’re not that good this year. I didn’t see enough from them to get this chance.”

(Athletic)

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P.J. Fleck reveals Gophers’ mindset and strategy in NIL contract negotiations

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4 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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There are hundreds of conversations happening behind closed doors of college football programs across the country right now. Between player-contract negotiations, coaching staff turnover and transfer portal decisions, the sport has transformed into the wild west.

Minnesota has already seen 13 of its own players announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens next month. They’ve also had notable players such as Drake Lindsey, Jalen Smith and Maverick Baranowski reveal their plans to return next season.

“I don’t think anything in elementary education taught you how to negotiate contracts in college. Even as you look at the past of you being a head football coach, everything you’ve gained experience on — and then you get into this world of new college athletics — and unless you’re a head coach that backs away and says, ‘Hey, I am just gonna coach football.’ You have to be so in line with your chief of staff, your GM, director of player personnel… You have to talk more than you ever have, and have meetings more than you ever had,” P.J. Fleck said.

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Minnesota has seen notable players like Bucky Irving, Phillip Daniels, and Athan Kaliakmanis enter the transfer portal over the years, but it’s routinely among the best programs in the country at retaining players. For example, past and present Gophers stars Justin Walley, Tyler Nubin, and Darius Taylor have turned down more lucrative offers to stay at Minnesota.

“It’s just a new era of college athletics, and we’ve embraced it. I think Gerrit Chernoff and his staff do an amazing job. Our retention rate, as of right now, is really, really high. Everybody does it on their own time frame. That’s one thing I’ve learned,” Fleck said.

“Everybody has representation. Everybody has their own view of not necessarily what they’re worth, and what they want to be able to get out of that, and what they value, and you respect that.”

Many fans and traditionalists are frustrated by what college sports have become, but it’s the new reality. It’s essentially one-year contracts for every player on your team, and they’re able to re-negotiate every offseason, with no salary cap or clear market. Fleck has historically had boundaries with the amount of information he shares about the inner workings of his Gophers’ program, but he shared a legitimate inside look on Wednesday.

The Gophers are currently in the stage of the offseason where they’re re-recruiting the entire roster. We likely won’t know the details or specifics of the contracts, but it was interesting to hear Fleck peel back the curtain.

Gophers news, rumors and analysis





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Tulane rides wave of economic impact into college football postseason

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4 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Tulane’s playoff appearance is generating millions in donations, NIL funding and local business revenue
  • Athletic donations jumped 373% year over year, totaling $1.68 million in just over a month
  • NIL collectives raised more than $1.1 million following the conference championship
  • Uptown retailers report record merchandise sales tied to Green Wave success

After being the first Louisiana university (sorry, LSU fans) to qualify for the college football playoffs, Tulane University, its athletic program, NIL organizations, and surrounding Uptown New Orleans businesses are seeing a multi-million dollar economic impact. From surging athletic donations to increasing merchandise sales, the Green Wave’s success on the field is translating into a massive green influx off of it.

“Since last week, we’ve taken in about 1,000 orders on the website, sold over 2,000 hoodies and 1,000 shirts, and a lot of the playoff merchandise,” said David Cariello, owner of the Campus Connection, an off-campus Tulane merchandise retailer on Broadway Street. Cariello has worked there since college and has owned Campus Connection since 2008. “This is unlike anything I have ever seen. Halfway through December, we are already at where we would be in a really good month, and by the end of the month, we may be at three times our typical monthly revenue.”
Cariello added that Campus Connection still has Tulane playoff merchandise available for fans interested in purchasing swag before Saturday’s game.

The American Conference champion Tulane Green Wave will travel to Ole Miss on Saturday to play in the first round of the college football playoffs. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., and the winner will take on Georgia on Jan. 1, 2026, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.


Ole Miss athletic officials are projecting a $74 million economic impact in Oxford for the playoff game, but, at home, in New Orleans, the institution and surrounding business community also are witnessing a financial windfall that administrators and shop owners describe as “unprecedented and magical.”

Tulane University Director of Athletics David Harris announced that between Nov. 12 and Dec. 16, the department received $1.68 million in donations from 519 donors. The figures represent a staggering 373 percent increase in dollar amount and an 83 percent rise in the number of donors compared to the same period last year.

Sam Scelfo, owner of the iconic Gambino’s Bakery in Metairie, has donated to Tulane University since 1973 and recalls his first donation of $100. For 52 years, Scelfo has consistently donated to the university and the athletics program.

“It’s magical what Tulane football has done this season. This college football playoff run is not just good for the university; it’s beneficial to the city as a whole, and it kind of mirrors the energy of New Orleans when the Saints are successful,” said Scelfo, who will attend Saturday’s game. “Even my LSU friends have called this past week to congratulate me. This season will breed success across the entire university – national recognition of the athletics program and university, more investment dollars, donations, applications – it’s just a win, win, win across the board.”

The financial impact extends into the modern frontier of college sports: Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Michael Arata, co-founder of the Fear The Wave Collective, reports the collective has raised over $1.1 million in NIL donations since the conference championship game. Arata can recall the early days of the Fear the Wave Collective in 2021 when he and co-founder Jimmy Ordeneaux set a goal of raising $10,000 in one year.


Fear The Wave fundraises to enhance accessibility for selected Tulane student-athletes to NIL deals, empowering them to gain financial and business exposure while maintaining their commitment to academics and sports. ‍

“It’s such an unprecedented time for everyone involved in Tulane University and Tulane athletics. It’s been so busy but so much fun as well,” said Arata, who projects that Fear The Wave Collective will almost double its NIL fundraising amount in 2025 compared to 2024. “It would have taken us several months to raise the kind of money we just did in one week. We went from asking people to help maintain where we are to getting incoming calls of people wanting to do more to continue to support a program that has grown so much over recent years.”

Sumrall arrived at Tulane in 2024 and coached the team to a 9-5 record and an appearance in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. This season, Tulane finished 11-2 and won the American Conference championship with a 34-21 win over North Texas in front of a sold-out Yulman Stadium.

Sumrall has announced that he will be the new head coach of the Florida Gators next season, but he has been allowed to coach Tulane through its playoff run. In the last week, Sumrall and his family announced a $100,000 contribution to the Green Wave Talent Fund, the university’s primary NIL fund and a Tulane athletics initiative to expand NIL opportunities for Tulane student-athletes across football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball.

“Jon’s donation shows the type of character he has, to help position Tulane for success after his departure. He is investing in the future of the program he helped build and in the lives of the kids he has changed,” Scelfo said. “His family’s donation definitely stimulated more donors to jump on board and also invest in the future of Tulane.”

For example, Arata said a Tulane family donated $500,000 to Fear The Wave Collective and then added $100,000 more after seeing Sumrall’s announcement. His donation also encouraged another donator to send a significant amount, and more donations have continued to come in since Tuesday’s news.

“We feel like we are just getting started, and this momentum over the last month can be self-sustaining and powerful going into the future,” Arata said. “We hope this sets the stage for building a program that is a permanent fixture on the national stage. Tulane was in the first Sugar Bowl, so why not play in the next one? Can you imagine the energy of the city and economic impact the Sugar Bowl will have if Tulane plays Georgia on New Year’s Day?”



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