The Drake Group Education Fund Statement on the Approval of the House v. NCAA Settlement
June 9, 2025
The Drake Group Education Fund, a national clearinghouse for college athlete advocacy and rights, today offered the following statement in response to the federal court’s final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement.
This landmark settlement will profoundly reshape the landscape of intercollegiate athletics, including significant payouts to former athletes and establishing a framework for direct revenue sharing with current college athletes. Following several years of unregulated and patchwork NIL implementation and enforcement, the House settlement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of college sports.
For decades, The Drake Group has championed the principle that college athletes are first and foremost students deserving of comprehensive protections and opportunities that prioritize their education and well-being. Our mission is to educate policymakers, the public, and advance initiatives that foster academic integrity and athlete well-being ensuring that the promise of college athletics is realized for all college athletes.
The approval of the House v. NCAA settlement represents a significant shift towards greater economic justice for college athletes. However, while the provision of back pay for past NIL opportunities, and the establishment of a revenue-sharing model are critical steps in recognizing the immense value that college athletes contribute to their institutions and the broader collegiate sports enterprise, there are significant ongoing concerns of equity and sustainability.
As we move into this new era, The Drake Group Education Fund emphasizes that the work is far from over. The settlement introduces new complexities and challenges that must be carefully navigated to ensure truly equitable and sustainable outcomes for all athletes, across all sports.
Our ongoing concerns and priorities include:
- Ensuring Comprehensive Athlete Well-being: Beyond financial compensation, the holistic well-being of college athletes—including their academic success, physical and mental health, and protections against exploitation—must remain paramount. The new model must not lead to increased pressures that compromise their educational experience or overall welfare.
- Addressing Title IX Compliance and Gender Equity: We urge all institutions to meticulously review and adjust their financial models to ensure full compliance with Title IX in the distribution of revenue-sharing funds. Disparities in compensation and resources between men’s and women’s sports must be proactively and transparently addressed—and ultimately eliminated—to uphold legal principles of gender equity.
- Mitigating Unintended Consequences of Roster Limits: While the settlement has adjusted initial proposals for roster limits, careful monitoring and adaptation will be crucial to prevent the displacement of college athletes, particularly walk-ons and those in non-revenue sports. The collegiate experience should remain accessible and robust for a diverse range of athletes.
- Promoting Transparency and Accountability: As institutions embark on direct revenue sharing, transparent reporting and robust oversight mechanisms are essential to ensure fairness, prevent abuse, and build trust among athletes, institutions, and the public.
- Advocating for Federal Legislative Solutions: The settlement addresses past grievances and establishes a new path forward, but a comprehensive and consistent federal framework is still needed to provide long-term stability and clarity for intercollegiate athletics. We will continue to engage with policymakers to advocate for legislation that safeguards athlete rights, promotes academic integrity, and ensures financial equity.
The Drake Group Education Fund views this settlement as an opportunity to build a more just and sustainable future for college sports. We remain committed to working alongside policymakers and other stakeholders to advance systemic reform through education and advocacy—creating a more equitable, sustainable, and opportunity-rich environment for all college athletes.”
About The Drake Group Education Fund:
The Drake Group Education Fund, Inc. is a Connecticut nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for academic integrity and athlete well-being in intercollegiate athletics. Through research, education, and advocacy, The Drake Group Education Fund seeks to inform policymakers and the public about critical issues in college sports and advance solutions that prioritize the educational experience and welfare of college athletes.
Contact:
Julie Sommer
(206) 660-4431