Who’s in Charge Here?: Collegiate Athletics After the House Settlement

Authors

• Pamela Ko

Abstract

The House v. NCAA settlement, which was approved in June 2025, paved the way for groundbreaking changes to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the implementation of its rules and regulations related to athlete rights, including transformative levels and types of student-athlete compensation that have never been permitted in the history of college sports. These changes fundamentally altered the relationship between many Division I student-athletes, educational institutions, athletic conferences, and the NCAA. This Article will discuss both the short and long-term impacts of the House settlement while analyzing both the continuing role of the NCAA and the role of the new regulatory body, the College Sports Commission, which will have authority over most changes related to student-athlete compensation going forward. This Article argues that the House settlement represents a significant shift away from the traditional amateurism model toward a compensation structure that increasingly resembles professional sports. While the settlement resolves major antitrust disputes, it leaves unresolved questions regarding Title IX compliance, gender equity, athlete employment status, state NIL laws, and the long-term role of the NCAA. These issues will likely shape the next phase of collegiate athletics through continued litigation, regulatory development, and potential federal legislation.

Recommended Citation

Ko, Pamela (2026) "Who’s in Charge Here?: Collegiate Athletics After the House Settlement," Touro Law Review: Vol. 41: No. 2, Article 9.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/lawreview/vol41/iss2/9