SAN ANTONIO, Texas – NCAA president Charlie Baker does not anticipate Judge Claudia Wilken to formally approve the House settlement following hearings on Monday. However, Baker expressed to reporters on Saturday at the Final Four that he believes Wilken will eventually approve this landmark measure.

“I don’t think she’ll approve it on Monday,” Baker stated. “She may give us some guidance with respect (to) what direction she’s leaning. My guess is she’s going to have the hearing and she’ll [approve it] after that.”
Translation: Baker is uncertain if the approval will happen soon, but hints at positive progress shortly after.

The House v. NCAA settlement represents one of the most significant changes in college athletics over the last few decades. It proposes a multi-billion class-action suit from 2020 that would establish a pot of $20.5 million, allowing schools outside of NCAA oversight to directly compensate athletes for their talents.

This settlement challenges the NCAA’s founding principles which aimed to safeguard the amateur framework. For the NCAA to thrive, it strategically chose to endorse the settlement, fearing a potential trial could result in higher damages and threaten its existence.

Baker’s sentiments align with several key figures in college sports who share the view that Wilken might not readily approve the settlement on Monday after hearing objections. If sanctioned, the settlement would come into force on July 1.

The settlement would be managed by Wilken, along with global auditing firm Deloitte and the commissioners of the Power Four leagues. They are in the process of hiring a CEO and a board responsible for overseeing the regulations that continue to limit athlete compensation.

“One of the things I like about the settlement is that it puts a process in place that doesn’t assert there is one style, one answer, one solution,” Baker mentioned. “I also think it will be rocky and bumpy, as it’s the biggest change in 40 years. … Let’s establish it and see how it unfolds. It’s far better than our current model.”
Translation: Baker appreciates the proposed settlement for its flexibility and acknowledges potential challenges ahead.

However, Baker also indicated that the advantages of the settlement could become liabilities, noting the cap on compensation can lead to legal challenges. Each deal over $600 will be scrutinized, and it will incorporate a fair market value component.

An arbitration process agreed upon by both plaintiffs and defendants will settle any disputes.

When asked about whether President Trump’s new political power could be leveraged to seek an executive order granting the NCAA an anti-trust exemption, Baker replied that any action would need to proceed through Congress.

In response to Trump’s executive actions on February 6, the NCAA limited competition in women’s sports to individuals designated female at birth.

Baker also addressed the NCAA’s monitoring of social media harassment directed at coaches, officials, and players. If offensive language arises on social media platforms, the NCAA will not hesitate to block offending parties for the duration of a tournament.

“If they detect profoundly challenging and potentially dangerous content, they will inform local authorities. We’ve taken such steps before,” Baker remarked.

In 2023, local law enforcement was called upon to ensure the safety of a team at the College World Series in Omaha after threats were reported. Baker chose not to disclose the team involved.