CHARLESTON, VA — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization announced a proposed lawsuit settlement Thursday that would make players immediately eligible to play regardless of how many transfers they have and grant them an additional year of eligibility.
The agreement makes permanent a preliminary injunction issued last December by a West Virginia federal judge allowing several transfer players to compete. Judge John Preston Bailey still must sign off on the agreement.
Thursday’s agreement comes a month after the NCAA Division I Council fast-tracked legislation ratified by the Division I Board of Governors to comply with Bailey’s preliminary injunction.
Under the agreement, the NCAA must grant an additional year of eligibility to Division I athletes who were deemed ineligible under previous eligibility rules after the 2019-20 school year.
“We have leveled the playing field to give college athletes more control over their own destiny,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement. “These long-term changes are exactly what we want to achieve.”
“This agreement is just one of many ways the Association is providing greater benefits to student-athletes, increasing flexibility and achieving impactful reforms,” the NCAA said in a statement.
Athletes must meet academic requirements to remain eligible. Sports-specific transfer windows will remain in place and require undergraduate athletes to enter their names into the portal at a specific time to be eligible for immediate admission to their new school. Graduate students can already transfer multiple times and enter the portal outside the window while maintaining immediate eligibility.
The agreement will prevent the NCAA from retaliating against member institutions and athletes who challenge or support the rules. This includes protecting the right of student athletes to compete during legal proceedings without fear of punishment from the NCAA.
Additionally, the agreement prohibits the NCAA from undermining or circumventing its rules through actions that could jeopardize the rights and freedoms of future athletes.
According to the agreement, the federal courts in the Northern District of West Virginia will retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms and resolve any disputes that may arise. The lawsuit is scheduled for a jury trial next year.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which joined the lawsuit in January, participated in the settlement. In addition to Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia have signed agreements.
___
AP Sports: https://apnews.com/sports
