A multibillion-dollar settlement ending antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA was approved, allowing schools to directly pay college athletes starting July 1st. The deal includes nearly $2.8 billion in back damages over 10 years and annual payment caps per school. This follows the Supreme Court's 2021 ruling against the NCAA, paving the way for athletes to profit from name, image, and likeness deals. While this marks a significant shift, questions remain about athlete employment status and potential future legal challenges. The NCAA hopes a new enforcement organization and potential congressional intervention will address these issues.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.