NCAA could be liable for more than $900M in additional damages from lawsuit

The NCAA and its Power 5 conferences “could be facing more than” $900M in additional damages as a result of a class-action lawsuit “seeking academic achievement payments to athletes dating back to the 2019-2020 school year,” according to Berkowitz & Gardner of USA TODAY. The suit follows a ruling upheld by the Supreme Court in 2021 in the case of former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston that prevents the NCAA from having limits on the compensation athletes could receive from their schools. The NCAA and a group of 11 conferences settled the damages portion for $208.7M. In the latest lawsuit involving former Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard, an expert for the plaintiffs “estimated that college athletes would be owed” $313M for the four calendar years (three academic years) before the Alston ruling went into effect. Under antitrust law, if a case goes to a jury verdict, damages “are tripled -- which would result in an award” of $939M (USA TODAY, 3/28).