Overview

• U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken postponed final approval of the NCAA’s $2.8 billion antitrust settlement due to issues with roster limit provisions.
• The proposed settlement would replace scholarship caps with fixed roster limits, capping football rosters at 105 players starting this season, down from an average of 128 players last year.
• Wilken expressed concern that immediate implementation of roster limits could displace current athletes, violating fairness standards for the settlement class.
• The judge ordered the parties to consult with a mediator within 14 days to propose modifications addressing these concerns, while preparing for a potential trial if no resolution is reached.
• Aside from the roster limit issue, Wilken tentatively deemed the remainder of the settlement fair, rejecting other objections raised during the review process.