A federal judge finalized the House v. NCAA settlement, allowing schools to directly pay college athletes for name, image, and likeness (NIL) for the first time. The 10-year agreement includes a $20.5 million NIL revenue-sharing model starting July 1, and nearly $2.8 billion in damages to past athletes. The settlement addresses antitrust lawsuits and aims to stabilize college sports, although some objectors raised concerns about roster limits, later addressed through an amendment. The agreement marks a significant shift in college athletics, but legal challenges remain.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.