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Dear Big Blue Nation,
On Friday, the settlement in the House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA cases (collectively, “the House case“) was granted final approval by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
This settlement represents a significant step forward for college athletics, providing additional opportunities for student-athletes to benefit from their participation while establishing a framework to maintain competitive integrity—for the sake of student-athletes, institutions and fans alike.
As we have done many times before, we will embrace this change and rise to the challenge of remaining competitive in a dynamic landscape. UK Athletics is proud to be a premier program, competing for championships in the nation’s best conference.
With this new framework, we will continue to do what it takes to remain competitive. We will remain focused on education and competition, putting championship rings on fingers and diplomas in hands.
We plan to not only survive but thrive.
We will rely on our strengths: our innovative legacy, our position in the Southeastern Conference, and the unified support of the University of Kentucky and the best fanbase in America, the Big Blue Nation. These are the cornerstones of our path forward.
To meet the demands of this new era, however, all of us will need to adjust how we support college sports.
The new model introduces revenue sharing with student-athletes and other annual cost increases that will add approximately $20 million to $30 million of expenses to our annual budget, in addition to ongoing costs such as inflation.
These expenses, expected to grow annually and be supported by new efforts to generate revenue, will help position us to support our programs and ensure the success of our athletes and teams.
We are committed to navigating these challenges responsibly, with the desire to maintain our high standards and support our varsity sports.
Now that the settlement is approved, the responsibility for its implementation and enforcement falls to the Power Four conferences and the NCAA. To oversee this process, the College Sports Commission has been formed.
The Commission will be put in place to facilitate revenue sharing in college sports and ensure that name, image and likeness (NIL) deals made between student-athletes and third parties are fair and comply with the rules.
We know there is still much to be done between now and when the new framework takes effect July 1.
To learn more about the settlement framework and its anticipated impact on UK Athletics operations, please refer to these frequently asked questions.
As we move forward, the Big Blue Nation’s continued support remains crucial. Together, we can embrace these changes to elevate Kentucky Athletics to new heights.
Thank you for your ongoing passion and commitment to the University of Kentucky. Together, let’s continue to support our athletes and help them succeed in everything they do.
Go Big Blue!
Sincerely,
Mitch Barnhart
Director of Athletics
University of Kentucky
One Response
Damn….I thought he was announcing his retirement!