University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Northern Colorado Athletics Statement on the House vs. NCAA Settlement
7/16/2025 4:55:00 PM | General
GREELEY, Colo. - On June 6, Judge Claudia Wilken granted final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, ushering in a historic change in the landscape of college athletics. This agreement brings sweeping reforms, including the ability for universities to compensate current and former student-athletes for the first time for opportunities related to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
The "House Settlement" refers to a series of consolidated federal antitrust class action lawsuits filed against the NCAA and the Autonomy Five (A5) conferences, collectively known as the House case.
The lawsuits alleged that NCAA restrictions on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities prevented student-athletes from earning their full market value, with claimed damages including lost revenue from NIL activities, broadcast rights, and video game licensing.
A proposed settlement received preliminary court approval on October 7, 2024, and final approval on June 6, 2025. Institutions outside the A5 conferences, including the University of Northern Colorado, were required to declare their decision to opt in or opt out of the settlement by June 30, 2025.
This settlement underscores how rapidly college sports are evolving. For schools that opt in, the primary components include:
Key Elements of the Settlement
Roster Management: Traditional scholarship limits will transition to new roster maximums for participating institutions.
Revenue Sharing: Schools that have the funding available and opt in may allocate up to $20.5 million annually to student-athletes through direct revenue sharing.
NIL Compliance: Student-athletes will report third-party NIL compensation over $600, and additional rules will guide external NIL agreements for improved transparency.
Additionally, all Division I schools, including UNC, are required to contribute to a collective $2.8 billion in backpay owed to former student-athletes who competed between 2016 and 2024, regardless of their decision to opt in.
UNC's Position and Commitment
After extensive evaluation, the University of Northern Colorado has chosen to opt into the settlement, joining many peer institutions in Division I.
This decision was made with great care. The ability to preserve roster sizes through the grandfather clause and to enhance the experience of our current and future student-athletes were key factors in this decision. Opting in positions UNC to remain competitive and committed to excellence at the highest level.
Looking Ahead: How Bear Country Can Help
Entering this new era will require unprecedented collaboration between UNC Athletics, alumni, the Greeley community. Your engagement and support are essential to ensuring our programs remain strong and our student-athletes have the tools to succeed both on and off the field.
For more information on how you can support UNC student-athlete NIL opportunities, please contact:
Darren Dunn, Director of Athletics, at darren.dunn@unco.edu (970-351-2362)
If you would like to support a specific team, we encourage you to reach out to the program's head coach.
We remain committed to offering the very best opportunities for all our programs. Together, we can embrace this change and ensure UNC continues to thrive in this evolving environment.
To learn more about the House v. NCAA Settlement and its impact on college athletics, please visit the following resources:
NCAA – Change in College Athletics
College Sports Commission
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com.
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The "House Settlement" refers to a series of consolidated federal antitrust class action lawsuits filed against the NCAA and the Autonomy Five (A5) conferences, collectively known as the House case.
The lawsuits alleged that NCAA restrictions on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities prevented student-athletes from earning their full market value, with claimed damages including lost revenue from NIL activities, broadcast rights, and video game licensing.
A proposed settlement received preliminary court approval on October 7, 2024, and final approval on June 6, 2025. Institutions outside the A5 conferences, including the University of Northern Colorado, were required to declare their decision to opt in or opt out of the settlement by June 30, 2025.
This settlement underscores how rapidly college sports are evolving. For schools that opt in, the primary components include:
Key Elements of the Settlement
Roster Management: Traditional scholarship limits will transition to new roster maximums for participating institutions.
Revenue Sharing: Schools that have the funding available and opt in may allocate up to $20.5 million annually to student-athletes through direct revenue sharing.
NIL Compliance: Student-athletes will report third-party NIL compensation over $600, and additional rules will guide external NIL agreements for improved transparency.
Additionally, all Division I schools, including UNC, are required to contribute to a collective $2.8 billion in backpay owed to former student-athletes who competed between 2016 and 2024, regardless of their decision to opt in.
UNC's Position and Commitment
After extensive evaluation, the University of Northern Colorado has chosen to opt into the settlement, joining many peer institutions in Division I.
This decision was made with great care. The ability to preserve roster sizes through the grandfather clause and to enhance the experience of our current and future student-athletes were key factors in this decision. Opting in positions UNC to remain competitive and committed to excellence at the highest level.
Looking Ahead: How Bear Country Can Help
Entering this new era will require unprecedented collaboration between UNC Athletics, alumni, the Greeley community. Your engagement and support are essential to ensuring our programs remain strong and our student-athletes have the tools to succeed both on and off the field.
For more information on how you can support UNC student-athlete NIL opportunities, please contact:
Darren Dunn, Director of Athletics, at darren.dunn@unco.edu (970-351-2362)
If you would like to support a specific team, we encourage you to reach out to the program's head coach.
We remain committed to offering the very best opportunities for all our programs. Together, we can embrace this change and ensure UNC continues to thrive in this evolving environment.
To learn more about the House v. NCAA Settlement and its impact on college athletics, please visit the following resources:
NCAA – Change in College Athletics
College Sports Commission
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com.
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