Overview

• The NCAA Division I Board of Directors has approved the removal of 153 rules, allowing schools to directly compensate athletes for the first time in history.
• The reforms, which include a $20.5 million annual payment cap for major schools, require final approval from Judge Claudia Wilken to take effect.
• Sport-specific roster limits will replace scholarship caps, with some details still under review following judicial feedback.
• A new NIL clearinghouse will monitor third-party deals exceeding $600, alongside an enforcement body developed by defendant conferences to ensure compliance.
• Schools must decide by June 15 whether to opt into the new system, with implementation targeted for the 2025-26 academic year if judicial approval is granted.