NCAA Approves Sweeping Athlete Pay Reform Plan

The NCAA has approved nine legislative proposals that would eliminate over 150 rules and allow schools to directly pay athletes, pending final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement by a federal judge. Central to the reforms are removing scholarship limits, establishing annual school payment pools of around $20.5 million for major programs, and creating a clearinghouse to monitor third-party NIL deals exceeding $600. Enhanced enforcement and reporting mechanisms are to be implemented to ensure compliance. If the settlement receives court approval, the reforms are targeted to take effect by July 1. NCAA and conference leaders are working quickly to prepare for the changes. These measures mark a historic transformation in college athletics toward direct athlete compensation.