NCAA agrees to end transfer rules permanently; athletes who lost eligibility will have year restored

[Eurocat]

By Stewart Mandel

The U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with the NCAA that will permanently bar the organization from restricting athletes’ transfer eligibility, it was announced Thursday.

The settlement resolves a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by a coalition of states last December challenging the NCAA’s requirement that athletes who transfer more than once must sit out a year of competition. U.S. District Court Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a preliminary injunction at the time that banned the NCAA from enforcing its Transfer Eligibility Rule. The DOJ joined the suit in January.

A consent decree announced Thursday makes that policy change permanent, allowing athletes to transfer an unlimited number of times without penalty. It also requires the NCAA to restore a year of eligibility for current athletes who missed a year of competition since 2019-20 due to the old policy.

“Free from anticompetitive rules that unfairly limit their mobility, Division I college athletes will now be able to choose the institutions that best meet their academic, personal and professional development needs,” Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division said in a statement.

“We’ve leveled the playing field for college athletes to allow them to better control their destinies,” said Ohio AG Dave Yost, who brought the suit. “This long-term change is exactly what we set out to accomplish.”

As required by the Tunney Act, a 60-day public comment period will begin, after which the court may enter the settlement as final judgment.

NCAA agrees to end transfer rules permanently

The DOJ reached a settlement with the NCAA that will permanently bar the organization from restricting athletes’ transfer eligibility.

www.nytimes.com

 

[FeralFelidae]

Lunacy.

 

[CatManTrue]

Lunacy.

No, it’s fair. A hearty cheers and “Hear Hear!” to the NCAA!

 

[CMcCat]

By Stewart Mandel

The U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with the NCAA that will permanently bar the organization from restricting athletes’ transfer eligibility, it was announced Thursday.

The settlement resolves a federal antitrust lawsuit filed by a coalition of states last December challenging the NCAA’s requirement that athletes who transfer more than once must sit out a year of competition. U.S. District Court Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia issued a preliminary injunction at the time that banned the NCAA from enforcing its Transfer Eligibility Rule. The DOJ joined the suit in January.

A consent decree announced Thursday makes that policy change permanent, allowing athletes to transfer an unlimited number of times without penalty. It also requires the NCAA to restore a year of eligibility for current athletes who missed a year of competition since 2019-20 due to the old policy.

“Free from anticompetitive rules that unfairly limit their mobility, Division I college athletes will now be able to choose the institutions that best meet their academic, personal and professional development needs,” Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division said in a statement.

“We’ve leveled the playing field for college athletes to allow them to better control their destinies,” said Ohio AG Dave Yost, who brought the suit. “This long-term change is exactly what we set out to accomplish.”

As required by the Tunney Act, a 60-day public comment period will begin, after which the court may enter the settlement as final judgment.

NCAA agrees to end transfer rules permanently

The DOJ reached a settlement with the NCAA that will permanently bar the organization from restricting athletes’ transfer eligibility.

www.nytimes.com

So what is the difference between college and pro football now? Just the number of zeros in the paycheck?

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Are there still restricted to transfer windows throughout the year?

 

[NUCat320]

Everything the NCAA has been blown up in the past decade. Imagine if they had just agreed to let schools pay $50k stipends. None of this would have happened.

@CMcCat, the difference is that college players have significantly more freedom of movement than pro players. Maybe we’ll see kids stay in school longer, just at four different schools.

 

[Just Gary]

Are there still restricted to transfer windows throughout the year?

The agreement reads like the portal system and dates are still controlled by the NCAA but no penalty is given for players to enter and no barrier except the 4 years of eligibility. Player interference is still in effect so the kids cannot be recruited to switch schools until they enter the portal. I bet you will see more “friendships” between coaches and students at other schools, but not a direct request to switch.

 

[CMcCat]

Everything the NCAA has been blown up in the past decade. Imagine if they had just agreed to let schools pay $50k stipends. None of this would have happened.

@CMcCat, the difference is that college players have significantly more freedom of movement than pro players. Maybe we’ll see kids stay in school longer, just at four different schools.

I suspect that freedom will disappear in due time. Pro teams want the talent. Pro teams will pay for the talent. Pro teams will put strings on the talent. It’s going to be like baseball, I bet.