Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced Monday that a bipartisan coalition of states has clinched a landmark settlement with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), poised to overhaul college sports by dismantling its “illegal” ban on name, image, and likeness (NIL) recruiting deals.
The agreement, pending court approval, promises to unshackle student-athletes earning power and reshape a multi-billion-dollar industry.
“We fought hard to protect Tennessee’s student-athletes, and this locks in their victory,” Skrmetti said in a statement. “In a world where college sports fuel a massive entertainment machine, the kids driving it shouldn’t be the only ones left out of the profits.”
READ: 10 Sex Offenders Among Illegal Aliens Arrested In Florida ICE Operation
The deal, he added, “benefits generations of athletes, shields our universities from NCAA backlash, and nudges college sports toward a fairer future that balances cash and competition.”
The settlement—born from a 2024 federal lawsuit led by Tennessee and Virginia, joined by Florida, D.C., and New York—targets the NCAA’s old NIL recruiting rules, which barred prospects from negotiating endorsement deals before enrollment. A federal judge slapped a temporary injunction on those restrictions last year, siding with the states’ claim they violated antitrust laws and stiffed athletes. After a January 31 “in principle” pact, Monday’s final terms cement the win.
If greenlit, the deal will: let recruits and transfer-portal athletes hash out NIL compensation before committing; free third parties to broker deals during recruiting windows; allow schools to guide prospects on NIL options; bar the NCAA from future workarounds; and force transparency—any NIL rule tweaks over the next five years must be public and vetted with states first.
READ :House Republicans Target 26 ‘Vulnerable’ Democratic Incumbents
Skrmetti hailed the NCAA’s surrender as a pivot from “the worst kind of HOA” to a “new era” for athletes, schools, and fans. “I hope we can all follow college sports without needing a law degree,” he quipped. The coalition’s push, sparked by Tennessee and Virginia AG Jason Miyares, reflects a broader reckoning with college athletics’ financial realities—where stars can now cash in on their fame, not just sweat.
With court approval looming, the settlement could mark a turning point, empowering athletes and steadying a system long rocked by legal and economic turbulence. For now, it’s a bipartisan slam dunk—and a green light for the next play.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
