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NCAA and Power 5 Face Backlash Over $2.7B House Settlement Amid $15M Lobbying Effort

May 18, 2024, 01:43 PM

The NCAA and Power 5 conferences are facing significant backlash over the proposed House settlement of an antitrust lawsuit, which would require them to pay $2.7 billion in damages. Power 5 schools are responsible for 40% of the damages, Group of Five (G5) schools for 17%, and other Division I schools for 2%. The NCAA will cover 40% of the settlement over a 10-year period. There is considerable dissatisfaction among schools outside the power conferences regarding the financial burden imposed on them. Additionally, the NCAA and Power 5 have spent over $15 million on lobbying efforts involving DC’s most powerful firms to seek an antitrust exemption from Congress, aiming to limit athletes' rights and reverse the progress made in recent years. The handling of finances for the 10 departing Pac-12 members is also a contentious issue, as they do not want to pay twice for the settlement. The CCA22 are expected to propose changes this week. The NCAA also sent a memo detailing changes in revenue distribution by conference in future NCAA Tournament payouts.