A $2.8 billion NCAA settlement over student athletes will change college sports forever

By Steve Kraske,

Published May 28, 2024 at 2:54 PM CDT

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The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences have agreed to pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims, a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start directing millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester.

A $2.8 billion settlement involving the NCAA sent shockwaves throughout the college sports world last week, paving the way for colleges around the country to pay student-athletes directly for the first time.

A new settlement involving the NCAA and its "Power Five" conferences will pay nearly $2.8 billion in past damages to former and current college athletes. It will also pave the way for a brand-new revenue-sharing system for athletes moving forward.

Blair Kerkhoff of The Kansas City Star told KCUR that this change is historic.

"(It really is) the end of amateurism in college sports," said Kerkhoff. "Starting in the 2025-26 school year, schools are gonna have to basically have revenue-sharing with the athletes on campus. That's something that older people like me are just not used to seeing."

"And it opens up so many questions about athletes and being paid like professionals," Kerkhoff said. "What is the difference between a Kansas or Missouri or Kansas State athlete and a Royals or Chiefs athlete? They're all getting paid."

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star sports reporter