NCAA v. House Settlement

NCAA v. House Settlement and North Dakota Athletics

A messsage from North Dakota Director of Athletics Bill Chaves:

“On Friday, June 27, 2025, we sent the NCAA our intent to opt in to the House settlement. As an NCAA Division I member, in a non-defendant conference, our thought process has always been to do what is best for our student-athletes and the University of North Dakota. With the information that we have today and the requirement to make a decision by Monday, June 30, we felt that this was the most prudent course of action. There was always a chance that when the final settlement occurred that it could be different than what was initially provided by both the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ attorneys and sure enough that was the case."

"Given that roster grandfathering can only occur should institutions opt in at this moment of time, we believe that opting in is best for UND. Additionally, I believe the opportunity to expand our partnership with our teammates at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, 1883 Collective and Ralph Engelstad Arena will provide us the best situation possible for our student-athletes this year and beyond. Further, the ability to potentially provide additional support through internal NIL will be intriguing for UND as we traverse this new era of college athletics.”

For more information on the House Settlement and Frequently Asked Questions regarding both internal NIL and third-party NIL please visit below

What is the House Settlement?
The “House Settlement” refers to three consolidated federal antitrust class action lawsuits brought against the NCAA and Autonomy Five (A5) conferences which are commonly referred to as the House case. These cases allege that the NCAA’s restrictions on the monetization of name, image and likeness (NIL) payments prevented student-athletes from realizing their true market value. The claimed damages include lost revenues from NIL, broadcast rights and video games.
The parties reached a proposed settlement which received preliminary approval from the court on October 7, 2024, and final approval on June 6, 2025. Non-defendant schools (schools not in the A5 conferences), such as UND, had until June 30, 2025, to declare their intent to the NCAA as to whether they are choosing to opt in to the House Settlement or to not opt in to the Settlement. UND made the decision to opt in on June 27, 2025.
To read the full press release of UND's announcement, click here
The Settlement consists of three major components:
Support and Opportunities
Universities will be permitted to directly provide additional support with student-athletes in addition to the benefits that already accompany scholarships (tuition, housing, meals, academic awards, healthcare, etc.). The Settlement sets a uniform internal NIL cap for all schools who choose to opt in equal to 22 percent of the NCAA Division I average media, ticket and scholarship revenue. For 2025-26, the internal NIL cap for each school is approximately $20.5 million and will be recalculated every three years. Although the scope and scale will look different from mid-major institutions and those in the A5, each individual school can decide how to distribute the internal NIL amongst its sports teams and student-athletes. There is no minimum required distribution. Internal NIL allows the university to manage the donor support holistically and does so in a way that allows donors to make these contributions charitably through the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.
The Settlement also allows for third-party NIL payments to student-athletes. Third-party payments from an “affiliated entity” (i.e., 1883 Collective, Fighting Hawks Sports Partnerships and the Sioux Shop) must be analyzed to meet fair market value with a legitimate business purpose. Approved third-party NIL payments will not count towards the internal NIL cap and will be reviewed by an independent clearing house (NIL Go) to determine compliance with range of compensation regulations.
Back Damages
The NCAA, which UND is a member of, along with the A5 conferences will pay approximately $2.8 billion in damages over a ten-year period to a class of former student-athletes who did not have the opportunity to benefit from their name, image and likeness (NIL). These back damages will be paid regardless of opt in or opt out status. The estimated annual damages paid by UND are projected at $250,000.
Rosters/Scholarships
Opting in to the settlement triggers roster limits for all NCAA-sponsored sports, but it also provides roster flexibility over a four-year period that opting in at a later time would not allow. In addition to roster limits, there will be no cap on scholarships up to the roster limit. That is, each institution can decide how many scholarships to award up to the total number of roster spots allotted for each sport.
What could internal NIL mean for North Dakota Athletics moving forward?
With UND opting into the House Settlement, we remain committed to delivering exceptional benefits and support to our student-athletes. As we navigate this evolving NCAA landscape, we will continue to uphold all federal laws and ensure compliance while embracing new opportunities for internal NIL. Our focus remains on fostering a world-class student-athlete experience, grounded in integrity, equity, and excellence. The opportunities that the Settlement provides will be assessed and implemented as appropriate for UND Athletics.
How could North Dakota Athletics continue to invest in scholarships moving forward?
The internal NIL distribution would be in addition to the cost of scholarships. The core mission of North Dakota Athletics remains unchanged and is critical to the success of our student-athletes and sports teams. We still maintain high academic standards, and expect our student-athletes to graduate, develop, and compete for championships.
The potential for additional expense may come with a greater need for fundraising, philanthropic giving, and innovative revenue generation.
What services will North Dakota Athletics provide its student-athletes?
North Dakota Athletics remains committed to providing transformational experiences for student-athletes through competitive excellence, academic support, facilities, mental wellness, recovery, nutrition, brand development, NIL and more.
How will North Dakota Athletics structure itself for success moving forward?
The implementation of internal NIL creates a new model in college athletics as well as additional considerations pertaining to roster management. North Dakota Athletics is proactively preparing for these changes by strategically structuring how we work in this evolving space.
Does this mark the end of the “Name, Image and Likeness” era?
This does not mark the end but creates a transformational shift in NIL – there will likely be a marked difference from the current state of NIL (prior to settlement implementation) when the House settlement takes full effect.
Currently, the national platform provided to our student-athletes through North Dakota’s success has made NIL an opportunity for our student-athletes. With a settlement-defined requirement that NIL be for a legitimate business purpose within a fair range of compensation, there is further opportunity to provide our student-athletes with the resources needed to enhance and monetize their brand. Legitimate business purpose NIL, coupled with a uniform internal NIL cap, will bring much-needed stability and a level playing field to the competitive landscape. We believe North Dakota will thrive in this new era.
North Dakota Athletics remains incredibly appreciative of the support our fans and many businesses continue to provide to the 1883 Collective. Healthy collectives have been a critical piece of the college sports landscape in recent years, and they may continue to play a very significant role during this phase of college athletics. North Dakota student-athletes remain in high demand as ambassadors for brands, and the 1883 Collective in coordination with Fighting Hawks Sports Partnerships remains a key part of North Dakota’s continued success in helping student-athletes monetize their respective names, images and likenesses.
The dawn of the internal NIL era does not mean the dusk of third-party NIL. Instead, it will add much-needed regulation in the NIL space and further legitimize the ever-growing opportunities for our student-athletes in the areas of sponsorships, endorsements, and more.
What does this new era mean for the North Dakota Champions Club and the UND Alumni Association and Foundation?
North Dakota Athletics and the University of North Dakota will never waver from their commitment to education. Because of that, UNDAAF and NDCC’s mission to provide resources supporting a world-class education and a first-class student-athlete experience remains as important as ever.
UNDAAF and NDCC continue to be engines that drive North Dakota Athletics’ educational mission in the form of scholarships and 701 awards. In addition to providing resources for facility improvements, student-athlete health and wellness, and much, much more, new roster limits, scholarship opportunities and internal NIL across our various programs means there may now be an increased opportunity to fund additional support for deserving student-athletes.
To support student-athletes across all UND Athletics or give to a specific sport via the 701 Award, visit here
What does this mean for North Dakota Athletics?
North Dakota Athletics is very optimistic about our ability to compete within this new framework. By providing uniform internal NIL across all “opted-in” schools and a requirement that third party NIL be for legitimate business purposes, we foresee greater stability for collegiate athletics. This is, however, an evolution. So, we are likely to see continued refinement of the framework as the new rules are written, and we begin to operate in the post-House world. One thing you can be certain of, we will continue to act in a manner consistent with our North Dakota Values and to be aggressive in our pursuit of championships.
What is the Third-Party NIL Strategy in the New Era?
The 1883 Collective along with Fighting Hawks Partnerships will support North Dakota Athletics’ student-athletes within two key areas: deal facilitation/management and support services.
Third-party NIL Deal Facilitation & Management
Negotiating and securing brand partnerships locally, regionally, and nationally for student-athletes serving as third party marketing agency.
Overseeing contract preparation and range of compensation assessments.
Utilizing analytics to track NIL performance and return on investment.

Athlete Support & Services
Providing financial literacy and tax support through partnerships with industry experts.
Offering branding and social media growth training to help athletes build their personal brand.
Connecting student-athletes with brand partners to provide business experience, micro-internships and build professional networking relationships with companies.

Impact & Vision
Through this partnership, North Dakota Athletics, Fighting Hawks Sports Partnerships and the 1883 Collective are setting a new standard for NIL excellence. The initiative aims to:
Provide educational opportunities beyond the classroom
Maximize student-athlete earning potential
Strengthen North Dakota’s brand value through strategic partnerships
Create a sustainable, best-in-class third-party NIL ecosystem that benefits athletes, brands, and the university.

1883 Collective – A trusted partner of UND Athletics, the 1883 Collective exists to create and provide name, image, and likeness opportunities to UND student athletes, and to create meaningful service opportunities that strengthen our community.
Fighting Hawks Sports Partnerships - Connecting businesses with North Dakota's undeniably loyal and passionate fan base. Sponsorships for the University of North Dakota Athletics Department, the Ralph Engelstad Arena, and their facilities.

Updated as of August 27, 2025