NCAA Approves $2.8B Settlement, Paves Way for Player Compensation

The recent settlements of three major antitrust class actions against the college sports system mark the end of the beginning of legal challenges, not their resolution. Future violations are likely unless colleges either embrace an open labor market or secure an antitrust exemption. The NIL issue remains unresolved, and a comprehensive fix, possibly involving a nationwide union and NFL-style collective bargaining agreement, is needed to address future antitrust concerns and maintain competitive balance.