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Report: Big East Commissioner Has 'Strong Objection' to NCAA Lawsuit Settlement Plan

Doric Sam

The NCAA is on the verge of a historic settlement decision related to recent antitrust cases, but one of the most prestigious basketball conferences is not on board with the impending decision.

Per Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, Big East commissioner Val Ackerman sent an email to conference members on Saturday expressing a "strong objection" to the NCAA's proposal for how it will be distributing back damages as part of the consolidated settlement in the House, Hubbard and Carter antitrust cases.

Ackerman added in her email that she is hoping to find a way to "alter the plan that the NCAA and A5 have orchestrated."

The settlement, which Dellenger noted is "in the final stages of adoption," consists of three components: $2.77 billion in back damages owed to former collegiate athletes; a revenue-sharing model for current and future athletes that can cost upwards of $22 million per school; and an overhaul of multiple NCAA rules such as scholarship and roster limits, governance structure and enforcement arm.

During the proposed 10-year payback period, the NCAA would be responsible for 40 percent of the $2.77 billion while the other 60 percent would come from a reduction in school distributions. The NCAA determined a formula for how much each of the 32 Division I conferences would contribute based on the amount of distribution earned by each league over a nine-year period beginning in 2016.

The Big East would be facing contributions of $5-7 million annually, which could be up to $70 million over the next decade. Each school would be responsible for $600,000-700,000 per year, which would be a large chuck of each school's budget.

"Based on the numbers we have reviewed, the liability of the 22 non-FBS conferences under the proposed formula appears disproportionately high, particularly because the primary beneficiaries of the NIL 'back pay' amounts are expected to be FBS football players," Ackerman wrote in her email. "I have voiced the Big East's strong objections to the proposed damages framework through recent emails to (NCAA president) Charlie Baker and his counsel and through comments during commissioner calls over the past two weeks."

Ackerman noted that while she and other non-FBS conferences plan to fight for a change to the distribution formula, she is "unclear how much time or leverage" they have because of the football powers Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC and remaining and former members of the Pac-12 serving as the lead defendants in the antitrust cases.

Power conference leaders are expected to meet this week to vote and potentially adopt the settlement, with decisions expected to run from Tuesday to Thursday. Ackerman's letter said the NCAA Board of Governors is set to meet Thursday to review and potentially authorize the settlement. She will meet with other Big East leaders on Tuesday during the annual league meetings in Florida to further discuss the matter.

   

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