NCAA President Charlie Baker and each of the Power 5 conferences — the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern — jointly announced Thursday that they’ve agreed to settlement terms regarding antitrust and class-action lawsuits. According to Ralph D. Russo of The Associated Press, the NCAA and Power 5 will pay nearly $2.8 billion, expected to be paid over 10 years, to settle several antitrust claims, notably House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA, and the joint statement claimed it “is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come.”

Among the longstanding aspects that made up the foundations of the NCAA is set to change: schools can directly pay players.

Here is the full joint statement from Baker, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petititti, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.

“The five autonomy conferences and the NCAA agreeing to settlement terms is an important step in the continuing reform of college sports that will provide benefits to student-athletes and provide clarity in college athletics across all divisions for years to come. This settlement is also a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students. All of Division I made today’s progress possible, and we all have work to do to implement the terms of the agreement as the legal process continues. We look forward to working with our various student-athlete leadership groups to write the next chapter of college sports.”

READ: College Football Playoff, TNT Sports reach 5-year sublicensing agreement; TNT Sports to begin broadcasting 2 first-round games in 2024

READ: Reports: Big Ten Conference made $880 million in revenue during 2023

Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. also reportedly released a statement, calling the settlement “necessary to avoid what would be the bankruptcy of college athletics.” Here is his full statement according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports.

“The settlement, though undesirable in many respects and promising only temporary stability, is necessary to avoid what would be the bankruptcy of college athletics. To save the great American institution of college sports, Congress must pass legislation that will preempt the current patchwork of state laws; establish that our athletes are not employees, but students seeking college degrees; and provide protection from further antitrust lawsuits that will allow colleges to make and enforce rules that will protect our student-athletes and help ensure competitive equity among our teams,” Jenkins stated via Yahoo! Sports.

Among the expected outcomes from the settlement include the NCAA and universities sharing revenue directly with student-athletes. There could be “millions of dollars” paid to players as soon as fall 2025, according to the AP.

The model for revenue sharing with student-athletes “will cost major conferences a cumulative $1 billion-plus annually,” according to Yahoo! Sports, and schools can share up to $22 million with student-athletes per year — a figure that “was derived from 22% of an average of power conference revenues” and subject to change and exceptions.

According to Dan Murphy and Pete Thamel of ESPN, any Division I athlete dating back to 2016 is eligible to receive a share as part of the settlement class. These athletes therefore drop their claims in three antitrust lawsuits — House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA — and cannot sue the NCAA for other antitrust-related reasons.

Roster size could also be affected as a result of the changes expected after the settlement. According to Yahoo! Sports, scholarship restrictions could be eliminated while roster limits would be implemented.

Bankruptcy was reportedly at risk had the settlement not been reached among the NCAA and Power 5 regarding the lawsuits.

READ: Penn State Board of Trustees approves Beaver Stadium renovation before 2027 season

The ability for student-athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness began when the NCAA implemented policy in July 2021. Since, college athletics has seen a flurry of changes in almost the past three years, including in areas such as the conference realignment and the transfer portal. Texas senator Ted Cruz hosted an NIL roundtable on Capitol Hill in March discussing its impacts and urging Congress to pass college athletics legislation.

According to Yahoo! Sports, there is likely a five-to-eight month time period before finalization of the settlement to account for official filing, judge approval and individual plaintiff objections among other things.

Final details will be submitted to the court and Judge Claudia Wilken in the next 30 days, according to ESPN.

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The Bears accepted an invitation and will move within the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a full-league member of CUSA for the first time effective July 1, 2025.

READ: Former Colorado, Houston RB Alton McCaskill IV transfers to Arizona State

“We are so excited for the opportunities that CUSA membership will bring to our university, our student-athletes, our coaches and our fans,” Missouri State athletics director Kyle Moats stated in a release. “This move represents a transition to a national brand and a platform that will help raise the profile of Missouri State University and the city of Springfield. The steps we have taken over the past 15 years to invest in a successful broad-based athletics program have prepared us for this long-awaited moment.”

READ: Former Mississippi State, Vanderbilt QB Mike Wright transfers to Northwestern

READ: Former Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt transfers to Kentucky

Missouri State had been a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, where it will play one final season this fall, since 1990. The Bears have won 10 conference championships and made four appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs most recently in 2021.

According to a release, Missouri State’s anticipated increase in revenue from going to an FBS conference “will ultimately make the move a budget-neutral transition.”

According to Lyndal Scranton of the Springfield Daily Citizen, retiring Missouri State president Clif Smart said the school received a $5 million commitment from a private individual to help with some of the costs for the move. Other costs include “$2.5 million paid over four years to join Conference USA.”

More financial resources for student-athletes and travel upgrades played “significant factors” in the school’s decision to make the move, according to a release. Short-term and long-term upgrades to the Bears’ home of Plaster Stadium were also factors, according to the Springfield Daily Citizen.

“This move will absolutely open doors for us,” Moats stated. “For our student-athletes, they will have less bus travel and more flights which will get them back to campus in a safer and more-timely manner. They will also have more financial resources at their disposal for cost of attendance, Alston funds, and a more strategic presence in the name, image and likeness (NIL) space.”

READ: Reports: Former MLB outfielder Monte Harrison joins Arkansas as walk-on wide receiver

Missouri State is already an affiliate member in CUSA in beach volleyball. The Bears will soon compete in football as well as other sports such as baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball in addition to seven more.

Since moving to the FBS and thus requiring 22 additional football scholarships, Missouri State announced it will add STUNT and acrobatics and tumbling to its women’s athletics programs in 2024-25.

CUSA will expand to 12 teams in 2025 as Missouri State will join Delaware from the Coastal Athletic Association in the FCS. The Bears will join a new conference including defending champion Liberty as well as New Mexico State and Jacksonville State among others.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Missouri State University as the 12th member of Conference USA,” CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod stated in a release. “The institution boasts a great tradition in athletics and academics that will strengthen and further position our membership for long term success in the national landscape.  We look forward to our partnership with President Clif Smart, incoming President Dr. Biff Williams, Director of Athletics Kyle Moats, and their entire leadership team.”

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On Monday, Snoop Dogg and the Arizona Bowl announced a multi-year sponsorship which will title the game scheduled for Dec. 28 the “Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop.” It is the first alcohol partner as the presenting sponsor in an NCAA bowl game.

READ: Marvin Harrison Jr. brings ‘consistent and disciplined’ approach to Arizona after No. 4 overall pick in NFL Draft

Snoop Dogg said in a social media video that he’s “ready to bring the juice back to college football.”

“College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences, so it’s time that we get back to the roots of college football when it was focused on the colleges, the players, the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry,” Snoop Dogg said.

READ: Drake Maye believes he can ‘fit right in’ New England after No. 3 overall draft pick

READ: Former Oregon State, Nebraska coach Mike Riley appointed to CFP Selection Committee

Launched in February, Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop is an all-natural, lightly carbonated cocktail and “the first ready to drink product from Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s new premium spirits company,” according to a release. It’s inspired by Snoop Dogg’s hit “Gin & Juice” from his debut album Doggystyle which released in 1994.

According to a release, charity events and a SNOOPER Bowl will also be held around Tucson.

Snoop Dogg is involved in a wide range of areas, from music to sports to philanthropy and more.

Snoop Dogg leads the Snoop Youth Football League, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing inner-city children between 5 and 13 opportunities to participate in football and cheerleading while also “teaching them the values of teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline, and self-respect, while also stressing the importance of academics,” according to the organization’s website.

More than 40 alumni of the SYFL have gone on to the NFL.

“Being a fan, coach, supporter of all levels of the game, I’ve sent many players through my SYFL to colleges and the NFL, so it’s only fitting that I step up and help get this thing right,” Snoop Dogg said.

READ: Georgia approves new contract for Kirby Smart; Smart becomes college football’s highest paid coach

The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop will pit one team from the Mountain West Conference and another from the Mid-American Conference. Last season, Wyoming scored 10 points in the fourth quarter while shutting out Toledo to win the bowl 16-15.

“We’re thrilled about our groundbreaking partnership with Snoop and Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop,” Executive Director of the Arizona Bowl Kym Adair stated in a release. “This year, the Arizona Bowl is bringing sports, libations, and entertainment into a singular bowl game, and we are changing the definition of what a brand partnership is in the NCAA.”

Playfly Sports, a sports media, marketing and technology business that provides sponsorship sales representation and sponsorship consulting, secured and finalized the agreement between Snoop Dogg and Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, according to a release.

“From the outset, we leveraged fan data to understand the valuable intersection between college sports and entertainment, redefining how the two can intersect,” Playfly Founder and CEO Mike Schreiber stated in a release. “This partnership is a testament to our innovation and commitment to providing an unforgettable fan experience.”

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According to The Associated Press, Oregon State and Washington State came to an agreement “in principal late last year” with the group of departing Pac-12 teams: Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford, Utah, UCLA, USC and Washington.

READ: Cincinnati hires Brad Wittke as chief of staff

Each of the 10 outgoing teams “will have $5 million withheld during the 2024 fiscal year for a total of $50 million under the deal” and “also will pay a $1.5 million ‘supplemental contribution’ to the conference that will be used by the remaining schools to navigate an uncertain future,” according to the AP. This totals to $65 million during the 2024 fiscal year.

According to the AP, after this year the outgoing Pac-12 schools won’t receive any revenue generated and “will have no ‘vote, direction input or other power with the conference’s use, allocation of expenditure of the supplemental contribution.'”

“We are pleased to finalize an agreement with OSU and WSU that provides support for all our student-athletes while ensuring an equal distribution of the vast majority of funds earned by all 12 schools during the 2023-24 academic year,” the 10 programs departing the Pac-12 stated via The Associated Press. “Under this agreement, our schools will have the right to vote on matters that affect all 12 schools this year, while OSU and WSU will have control over future Conference revenue and decisions.”

READ: SEC’s 2025 schedule format features 8-game conference slate

Oregon State and Washington State will schedule its contests accordingly with the Mountain West Conference, which the two schools will join in every sport except baseball and football beginning next season.

There were talks previously about the Pac-12 “merging” with the Mountain West in the fallout from conference realignment.

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According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, AAC presidents voted to accept Army into the conference on Tuesday night. 

PODCAST: Do we have any more clarity after some major week eight decisions? 

Army will be a football-only member, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. 

Army has been independent in football since 2005. The move comes after Southern Methodist University announced in September that it would move to the Atlantic Coast Conference beginning on July 1, 2024. 

According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, the annual Army-Navy game will remain on the second Saturday of December and will be played as a nonconference game. 

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Oregon State and Washington State filed the complaint “to confirm the governance structure of the conference, gain access to business information, and protect the conference’s assets,” according to a joint release by Oregon State and Washington State. 

“This is a critical step that allows the two universities to continue to explore all options for preserving the conference going forward, according to Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy and Washington State President Kirk Schulz,” the releases state. 

Oregon State and Washington State are the only two programs remaining in the Pac-12 as 10 former member programs announced plans for conference realignment. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah will join the Big 12 Conference in 2024, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington will join the Big Ten and Cal and Stanford will join the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

According to the joint releases, the lawsuit “seeks to prevent the Pac-12 from permitting the departing members of the Pac-12 Board of Directors from meeting and attempting to take any action regarding the status or governance of the conference in ways that preclude OSU and WSU from potentially rebuilding the conference.” 

The temporary restraining order against Kliavkoff and the Pac-12 would stop a Wednesday meeting of “current and former members of the Pac-12 board” to vote on a “go forward governance approach,” which would be “in violation of the Pac-12 constitution and by-laws,” according to the releases. 

The meeting or similar actions “would cause immediate and irreparable harm to OSU, WSU, and the conference,” according to the releases. 

“We owe it to our student-athletes, coaches, and fans to do everything in our power to protect the Pac-12 Conference and explore all future options,” Washington State University President and Chair of the Pac-12 Board of Directors Kirk Schulz stated in the releases. “WSU and OSU are working in lockstep to identify the best path forward. The future of the Pac-12 must be determined by the remaining members, not by those who are leaving.” 

According to the releases, “the legal brief filed by OSU and WSU states that the other schools in the Pac-12 forfeited their right to vote on conference matters when they announced their withdrawal from the league.” 

The temporary restraining order would allow Oregon State and Washington State “to make reasonable business decisions for the conference while continuing to seek collaboration and consultation with departing universities on any ultimate financial decisions,” according to the releases. 

“As the two remaining member institutions of the Pac-12, we are stepping forward with urgency to safeguard the integrity of the conference and preserve its legacy on behalf of student-athletes, fans and the conference itself,” Oregon State University President Jayathi Murthy stated in the releases. “We’ve heard the voices of constituents at home and from across the West about how much the Pac-12 and our regional rivalries mean to them. We are linking arms and fighting on their behalf.”

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After nearly three-plus weeks of discussions and possibilities, SMU officially announced its plan to join the ACC beginning July 1, 2024, on Friday. It will join the ACC along with former Pac-12 Conference members Cal and Stanford. 

“We have known that today’s move was a possibility, which has allowed us time to investigate a number of options, including consideration of the larger group of institutions in the Pacific time zone,” Aresco stated in a release. “We have concluded, however, that the best way to proceed for our outstanding student-athletes is to not look westward.” 

Given the AAC will no longer pursue westward expansion, it will instead “focus any expansion efforts on schools that allow for sensible and sustainable competition and student-athlete well-being within our strong geographic footprint,” according to a release. 

“SMU has shared our pursuit of competition at the highest level throughout its time in the American Athletic Conference,” Aresco stated in a release. “President Gerald Turner and Athletic Director Rick Hart have been among our strongest advocates and leaders both internally and externally. We wish them well.” 

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The ACC Board of Directors announced it voted Friday “to formally admit” a trio of programs: Cal and Stanford of the Pac-12 Conference and Southern Methodist University.

“We are thrilled to welcome three world-class institutions to the ACC, and we look forward to having them compete as part of our amazing league,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips stated in a release. “ Cal, SMU and Stanford will be terrific members of the ACC and we are proud to welcome their student-athletes, coaches, staff and entire campus community, alumni and fans.” 

The announcement comes after nearly three-plus weeks of discussions surrounding the possible decision to expand and include Cal and Stanford, and later factoring SMU and the “big guns” into the conversation. 

The ACC revisited and picked back up conversations in a “series of meetings” last week to reconsider a possible vote to allow the three programs into the conference. A meeting originally scheduled for Monday among ACC presidents was postponed due to the on-campus shooting at North Carolina, according to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. 

Finally, after much discussion and possibilities, the ACC has its hand involved in conference realignment. 

The Big Ten will increase to 18 programs beginning in 2024 and the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences will up to 16 teams apeice in the same year. 

SMU will officially join the ACC July 1, 2024, and Cal and Stanford will later join Aug. 2, 2024, according to a release. All three will begin competing in ACC athletics among all sports. 

According to Auerbach, North Carolina State “flipped and voted yes” in order to admit the group of three programs, and SMU will receive no ACC television revenue for nine years. Four ACC programs originally voted against the additions of Cal, SMU and Stanford.

According to a release by Florda State, Seminoles university president Richard McCullough stated that there “are many complicated factors that led us to vote no” on adding Cal, SMU and Stanford, and athletic director Michael Alford stated “our vote against expansion does not reflect on their quality.”

The move also leaves the Pac-12 with two member programs: Oregon State and Washington State.

The expansion is a sign of the latest step in an evolving college athletics landscape. More than 2,200 student-athletes will join the ACC from Cal, SMU and Stanford, and the move will “enrich the leagues’ competitiveness in all sports and further demonstrate the ACC’s commitment to broad-based programs for both women and men,” according to a release. 

“This expansion will enhance and strengthen the league now and in the future,” University of Virginia President and chair of the ACC Board of Directors James E. Ryan stated in a release. “We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of Commissioner Jim Phillips throughout this entire process, especially his focus on minimizing travel burdens for student-athletes, and we are excited about the ACC’s collective future.” 

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Among the topics of discussion included ticket distribution, team lodging and “other important but tedious matters around the first-round games on campus,” according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports. 

The meeting was described to have been “productive” and “cordial” by Executive Director Bill Hancock, according to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. 

“No major decisions” were made surrounding some of the bigger topics that leaders around the CFP will likely soon address, such as format changes and revenue distribution, according to Heather Dinich of ESPN. 

Amid conference expansion and recent realignment moves like the Big 12 adding four Pac-12 programs — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah — and the Big Ten including Oregon and Washington. 

The Atlantic Coast Conference, left relatively unimpacted by expansion given no additions or subtractions are on the docket, is eyeing possible moves. There could soon be a vote held to determine whether the ACC will add Cal, Southern Methodist University and Stanford. 

A meeting originally scheduled among ACC presidents was postponed Monday due to the on-campus shooting at North Carolina, according to Auerbach. The meeting currently has no rescheduled date. 

Regarding possible CFP expansion, which is already set to increase to a 12-team format in 2024, it’s likely a change to the new model will come. Hancock reportedly said “We’re going to have to wait until the dust settles before making any decisions about how it might affect the CFP,” according to Auerbach. 

One change that came from Wednesday’s CFP meeting was that the CFP “will provide a stipend for student-athletes’ families to travel to all rounds” and that “125 players on each team will get $3,000 per round to cover their families’ travel,” according to Auerbach.

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According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, “a series of meetings will be held this week to further vet and discuss different financial models that would come with the additions” of Cal, Southern Methodist University and Stanford. 

And according to Ralph Russo of The Associated Press, conversations are “gaining momentum” when it comes to Cal, SMU and Stanford becoming potential members of the ACC. 

The ACC has been largely unimpacted by conference realignment in recent years. The Big Ten will expand to 18 programs and the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences will up to 16 apiece beginning in 2024 while the ACC will not see change. That could be different over time. 

The increased discussions come nearly a week after several of the programs of question, SMU and Stanford, enlisted the “big guns” and have supporters such as Condoleezza Rice lobbying for the schools to become new members of the ACC. 

According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, one new financial model of the additions of Cal, SMU and Stanford would project “a financial boon of roughly $72 million in annual additional revenue for the conference.” 

Cal and Stanford are proposing to “take a significantly reduced revenue distribution for multiple years, starting at about 30%,” while SMU “is proposing to take no distribution for as many as seven years,” according to Dellenger. 

Finances remain near the center of discussions according to multiple reports. Yet to be addressed is “a performance pool for success initiatives,” according to Thamel. 

Twelve of the 15 ACC programs must vote in approval to add another school to its conference. Though, there are four programs already against the potential expansion, and this, too, could change over time. 

No meeting of the full board of presidents and chancellors has been scheduled, according to Russo, but the ACC is “trying to arrange a meeting of its athletic directors” for sometime this week, perhaps Thursday. 

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During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick summarized the recent expansion efforts and fact that programs like Cal and Stanford will be left without a conference for some time a “complete disaster” and that “everybody” in the industry “has to take responsibility here.” 

“I think the decision making has lost its way in terms of the focus on the student athlete and what’s primarily best for them,” Swarbrick said. “But we are where we are, and we have to try and make it work. I mean, we’ve been pretty vocal in the past month about we need to find a home for Stanford and Cal. That you can’t have two of the great academic institutions in the world not have a not have a place in play.” 

Since late July, conference realignment has retaken headlines amid a number of programs announcing plans to depart one conference from another. The Pac-12 Conference alone is left with four member programs — Cal, Oregon State, Stanford and Washington State — while schools such as Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington are departing for either the Big Ten or the Big 12. 

According to multiple reports, Notre Dame had been “pushing hard” for Stanford and Cal to become additions to the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

Swarbrick said “there’s still consideration” for Cal and Stanford to become member schools of the ACC, and he added that Notre Dame is “very much so” lobbying for the pair to join. 

Though, Swarbrick said he can envision a college athletics landscape where football isn’t completely independent from other, Olympic sports.  

“It doesn’t mean you need to separate out football, operationally,” Swarbrick said. “I think I think we can all still stay under the same umbrella.” 

Swarbrick said factors such as conflicting media rights agreements and assignment or Grants of Rights deals will make it difficult for football to completely separate from Olympic sports within college athletic departments. 

Swarbrick also said he can see a state of college athletics where student-athletes aren’t considered “employees” similar to today’s state. But money and payouts remain near the center of conference realignment discussions, and Swarbrick said he sees that trend will continue. 

“They’re certainly based on money. There’s no question,” Swarbrick said. “Some of that is the demands that have arisen over time to find more revenue to meet this requirement or this requirement. So I’m not terribly comfortable with the description of it as greed, but it is all about money.” 

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Washington State University President Kirk Schulz said in an interview Saturday that the program has about three options it is pursuing: join the Mountain West Conference, join the American Athletic Conference or be part of trying to “rebuild” the Pac-12. 

“None of these will be very surprising,” Schulz said. “Right now there’s four members left. But that could change literally within hours. And so I think each of those we’re pursuing in a parallel pathway. And we want to evaluate what’s going to be best for WSU, what’s going to be best for our student athletes, what’s going to be a good academic and athletic fit.” 

The Pac-12 is left with four member programs after expansion efforts led to six of its previous schools announced plans to depart for either the Big Ten or Big 12 conferences. Washington State, along with Cal, Stanford and Oregon State, is searching for a next move. 

“We want to be in a position where we control our own destiny as an institution and are not dependent on anybody else, and we want to be in a conference in a place where we can win conference championships,” Schulz said. 

Schulz was appointed to his position as university president at Washington State in 2016, and he spoke to his passion for the conference and the losses it has seen to expansion. 

Schulz said whatever direction Washington State goes, fans will be needed to help assimilate and make sure the transition is as smooth, and successful, as possible. Schulz said he wants among the solutions for Washington State to “remind everybody we’re still a great academic institution” and “not just simply a member” of any conference. 

“Look, I put my heart and soul into the Pac-12 ever since I’ve been here as president, and I’m dismayed and upset and depressed about where that has gone,” Schulz said. “But at the same time, I kind of can’t sit here and go, ‘Well, let’s just wait around and hope a lightning bolt strikes.’ We got to plan aggressively about what’s the right future for Washington State University.” 

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