Paul Finebaum continued to analyze the landmark House v. NCAA settlement that could forever change college sports.
On Friday, Judge Claudia Wilken approved a ruling that allows schools to directly pay athletes. They’re limited to a salary cap starting at approximately $20.5 million.
Finebaum previously declared college sports as we know it “over” following the ground-breaking settlement. The ESPN analyst shared more thoughts on the situation when appearing on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Monday.
Finebaum noted a surprising amount of “enthusiasm from college leaders,” including SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. He agreed when former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy asked if the major conferences won the settlement.
However, Finebaum warned that the House v. NCAA agreement will yield new legal challenges.
“That’s why you see such bullishness from the four Power Four commissioners,” Finebaum said, via On3. “But I think what’s behind the curtain is what always what concerns and keeps people that run college athletics up at night. If something is challengeable, you know enough and play golf with enough attorneys, it will be challenged.
“I don’t suspect, I know attorneys are sitting around right now — they’re not sitting, they’re actively moving — trying to figure out where the best route is, where the best lawsuit lies.”
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Judge Wilken deemed everything from the settlement open to legal disputes. As a result, Finebaum anticipates a “bevy of lawsuits” that will make things “uncomfortable.”
The ruling could also motivate Congress to introduce legislation providing federal support to the NCAA and conferences. According to The Athletic’s Chris Vannini, a proposed draft in the House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce would codify a national NIL law, establish that college athletes aren’t employees, and authorize a rumored Collegiate Sports Commission or other entity to enforce a salary cap and other guidelines such as transfer rules.
Vannini reported that a House subcommittee is scheduled to discuss this draft at a hearing on Thursday. Yet Finebaum remains skeptical of Congress intervening.
“I don’t believe we’re any closer to that than we were the day before or a year ago or three years ago,” Finebaum said. “Because Congress is not a body made to make decisions. The reason why people like divided leadership is nothing ever gets done because people in business really don’t want anything to get done.”
Related: Paul Finebaum: College Sports As We Know It Are ‘Over’
