On Wednesday, April 23rd, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken issued an order delaying final approval of the landmark House v. NCAA settlement, citing concerns over the immediate implementation of roster limits. This significant development impacts thousands of current and future student-athletes across NCAA Division I sports.

Understanding the Delay

Judge Wilken’s order states that while she is “tentatively” prepared to approve most aspects of the settlement, she cannot approve it in its current form because the proposed roster limits would unfairly hurt many current college athletes who would lose their spots on teams.

The primary issue centers on roster limits that schools across the country are already implementing, with the following effect:

  • Some high school athletes have received offers that have been rescinded by college programs in response to the anticipated roster limits 
  • Some athletes have already been removed from rosters in the past several months
  • These student-athletes would lose their roster spots while also giving up their right to sue as part of the settlement

According to Judge Wilken, a settlement can only be approved if it treats all affected athletes fairly compared to each other. In her opinion, the current version fails to do that.

What Happens Next?

The parties have been given 14 days to modify the settlement agreement with the help of mediator Professor Eric Green. The judge specifically suggested allowing current athletes to keep their roster spots and implementing the new limits gradually as athletes graduate.

If the NCAA and power conferences refuse to modify the settlement to address these concerns, the settlement could ultimately be denied, and the case would proceed to trial. The NCAA and Power 4 Conferences released a statement (via Ross Dellenger) reacting to Judge Wilken’s ruling that says:

Impact on Future College Athletes

For high school athletes currently navigating the recruiting process, these recent delays have introduced new layers of uncertainty. However, they also highlight some actions you can take to stay ahead:

  • Understand roster sizes: Research the current roster size of programs you’re interested in and compare it to the proposed limits to understand how those teams might be affected. You can find the proposed roster limit for all sports at the bottom of this article. 
  • Keep your options open: NCAA Division I athletics is getting increasingly competitive, so giving yourself options across a variety of divisions when building your target list of schools is a great way to maximize your chances of competing at the next level. The SportsRecruits Advanced School Search is a great way to narrow down which schools offer what you are looking for socially, geographically, academically, and athletically.
  • Stay informed: Follow reliable sources (like SportsRecruits, Sam Ehrlich and his website College Sports Litigation Tracker, and Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger) for updates on the settlement process and potential modifications.
  • Maintain flexibility: Be prepared for various outcomes, as the final settlement terms could still change significantly.

Moving Forward

The judge’s order represents a significant moment in the ongoing transformation of college athletics, potentially impacting how roster limits are implemented across NCAA Division I sports.

While there is uncertainty ahead, it is important to note that the settlement’s core components, including the $2.8 billion payment to former athletes and the framework and revenue-sharing structure for current and future athletes, have received tentative approval from Judge Wilken. This suggests that these aspects may move forward with modifications to the roster limit implementation.

SportsRecruits will continue to provide updates as this situation develops, and we will host a webinar once a decision has officially been made. 

Make sure to follow us on social media (Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube) as we will provide updates as soon as more information is available. 

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