NCAA in ‘deep talks’ to settle groundbreaking NIL lawsuit

The NCAA and its power conferences are involved in “deep discussions” to reach a settlement in the House v. NCAA lawsuit, ESPN reports.

The case, filed in 2020 by former Arizona State swimmer Grant House, alleges that the NCAA’s rules on name, image, and likeness (NIL) violate both “federal antitrust laws and the common law.” The lawsuit, which was granted class-action status last November, seeks damages dating back to 2016 for athletes who weren’t allowed to earn compensation from NIL.

The case is schedule to go to trial in January 2025. If plaintiffs are successful, the NCAA and its schools could be on the hook for over $4 billion in damages. Earlier this year, a source told The Athletic’s Justin Williams that a loss at trial could force the organization to declare bankruptcy and could even spell “the end of the NCAA, potentially.”