Urban Meyer admits he is skeptical about House settlement passing: 'You're damn right I am'

On April 6, Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House v. NCAA settlement, effectively giving the go-ahead for the revenue-sharing era to begin. While some members of the sports world celebrated the long-running legal battle’s conclusion, others have been cautious to embrace the change. Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer belongs in the latter category.

“We’ve spoken to a lot of people, most recently in depth with Commissioner Yormark of the Big 12,” Meyer said on The Triple Option, “Forty years of being scarred of how not to take charge of compliance of your people, scars you. I think I speak on behalf of the majority of people that played and coached — like, ‘Wait, what?’

“We’ve been signing our name every year for 40 years on we’re going to be compliant or all hell’s going to break loose, and it doesn’t. There are a couple key points that I’ve said over and over and over again. Subpoena power will change the game. That’ll expedite — if you lie under subpoena and you put your hand up and say, if that’s what they’re talking about, then that’s a problem. The punishment should be so firm to the point you can’t coach or play again.

“If you are subpoenaed and you lie intentionally, it’s over. Your career is done. Watch what happens if that happens, Mark and Rob. It’s over. Everybody’s going to be compliant. They can move on to something else that’s more important than the silliness that has gone on. So I love everything I’m hearing. I really do. Am I skeptical? You’re damn right I am.”

Meyer is referring to the speculation that conferences will have their respective schools sign agreements that ensure they must follow the rules established by the settlement. These agreements would stand even if specific states signed legislation that countered the settlement.

This idea grew in popularity after Tennessee’s state legislature passed an NIL law that aimed to prevent the NCAA from creating “anticompetitive restrictions that lessen, or tend to lessen, full and free competition in trade or commerce” affecting Tennessee schools. While Meyer believes the NCAA should find ways to prevent laws like these from overhauling the progress it’s made, he’s also skeptical such a thing is possible.

Urban Meyer believes if the NCAA’s new College Sports Commission can subpoena coaches and players who are challenging the commission’s NIL rulings, the NCAA will have a chance to succeed. Only time will tell if the three-time national champion will be correct.