Charlie Baker shares optimism after House v. NCAA settlement hearing, cites needed 'structure'

Although Judge Claudia Wilken opted not to rule from the bench during Monday’s House v. NCAA settlement final approval hearing, NCAA president Charlie Baker expressed optimism about the agreement. Wilken told attorneys for both sides to further discuss and return in a week.

Roster limits took center stage during Monday’s hearing as Wilken suggested potentially grandfathering athletes currently on rosters who could otherwise lose their spots. Of course, the settlement would also usher in the revenue-sharing era as schools would be able to share up to $20.5 million with athletes next year – which Baker refers to as “institutional NIL.”

Baker echoed a similar sentiment to the statement he released after the 6.5-hour House v. NCAA settlement hearing ended in California. He praised the structure that would be in place surrounding NIL as the revenue-sharing era would get underway if the settlement receives full approval, as well as the transparency around deals.

“If it gets approved, for the first time, we’re going to have structure around name, image and likeness,” Baker said on SiriusXM College Sports Radio. “We’re going to have an institutional NIL program for the schools and we’re going to have the third-party NIL program that people are familiar with. But unlike the way it’s worked historically – which is sort of off-the-books, off-the boards, no one really knows what’s going on out there. It’s all sort of representation and anecdotes, but there’s no real truth to any of it.”

Under the settlement, a clearinghouse that would be in place under terms of the agreement. NIL deals worth more than $600 to be approved by a clearinghouse that will vet contracts, which was part of LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne’s objection during Monday’s House v. NCAA settlement hearing. On3’s Pete Nakos also detailed how the proposed clearinghouse is impacting the current transfer portal scene.

Charlie Baker pointed out the importance of transparency, though, and how it can show just how many dollars are going to certain sports. He argued it would make the landscape easier to understand while also paving the way for more accountability.

“The one thing we will create here is a system that actually has rules and structure, and we will be able to tell just exactly how much money in the NIL world, on the institutional side and the third-party side, people are investing in sports,” Baker said. “Especially in particular sports. For me, that’s really important because I think the way this thing’s been working up until now, no one knows. They really don’t. All you have is what people tell you, and honestly, I’ve come not to believe any of it and I know that’s true for a lot of people who cover sports who told me the same thing.

“We will at least finally understand how much money on the NIL side are people putting our schools and third parties putting into men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, baseball, softball – all the various sports. I think that’s going to be a big win for everybody because transparency creates accountability, and right now, we don’t have either.”