Judge Halts $2.8B NCAA Settlement Over Roster Limit Concerns

A federal judge has delayed final approval of a landmark $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement, citing concerns over new roster limits that could force many athletes to lose their spots on college teams. Judge Claudia Wilken ordered both sides to revisit and revise the roster limit provisions, emphasizing that the current plan is not fair to athletes impacted by sudden cuts. The proposed settlement would have removed scholarship limits in favor of overall roster caps, with the intent to allow direct revenue sharing with college athletes and pay out billions in back compensation for lost name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. However, critics argue the immediate implementation of roster caps could eliminate thousands of walk-on and non-scholarship positions, particularly in non-revenue and Olympic sports. Wilken's order gives the NCAA and its co-defendants 14 days to negotiate changes, indicating that final approval is not guaranteed unless the settlement is made more equitable for all athletes. The NCAA has stated it remains focused on securing approval while addressing the judge's concerns to protect current athletes' opportunities.