Division I golfers have until Oct. 1 to apply for NCAA settlement payments

by Golf NIL Staff

Published: October 22, 2024 | Updated: September 3, 2025

Current and former Division I college golfers can now claim a share of the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement.

Following the final approval hearing in April and court sign-off in June, the settlement took effect. However, back pay for former athletes remains on hold due to ongoing legal challenges.

Those who competed between June 15, 2016, and Sept. 15, 2024, can apply on the settlement website until Oct. 1, following a deadline extension to give athletes more time to submit claims. Estimated payment amounts are listed on the site.

Eight female athletes filed the main appeal, arguing that the backpay split is unequal and violates federal gender equity laws under Title IX. Other appeals raise concerns about fairness to walk-on athletes, players from non-revenue sports, and the overall formulas used to distribute damages. Until these appeals are resolved, back pay payments are paused.

NCAA’s Indianapolis headquarters during a major shift in college athletics, following final approval of the landmark House settlement in June 2025 | Jonathan Weiss

Once payments begin, they will be distributed in annual installments over the next ten years, with amounts varying by institution. Schools with higher revenues are expected to receive larger payouts.

More than 400,000 athletes are eligible to file claims. The bulk of this settlement, which challenged whether the NCAA's limitations on athlete compensation violated antitrust laws, is expected to benefit Power 5 football and men’s basketball players, who average around $135,000 each. Women's basketball players in these conferences are projected to receive about $35,000 on average. Golfers and other athletes should anticipate smaller payouts ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

Also starting July 1, 2025, schools kicked off direct revenue-sharing with current student-athletes, with an initial annual cap of $20.5 million for the first year, set to increase gradually over the next few years.