A landmark $2.8 billion legal settlement just greenlit a seismic shift in college sports: schools can now pay athletes directly, dismantling the old model where players weren’t compensated beyond scholarships. This ends a century-old system and could turn student-athletes into salaried employees, reshaping everything from recruiting to budgets.

Editor’s Note: Forget what you knew about "amateur" college athletics—this ruling blurs the line between students and pros. While it’s a win for athlete rights, smaller schools might struggle to keep up with the financial arms race. Whether you love it or hate it, the game just changed forever.

A US judge has greenlit a landmark settlement that will let NCAA schools compensate athletes directly, marking a major shift in college sports. This ends decades of strict amateurism rules and could reshape how student-athletes are treated—financially and beyond.

Editor’s Note: For years, college athletes generated billions for their schools while getting nothing beyond scholarships. This ruling finally acknowledges their value and could lead to fairer pay structures, though questions remain about how it’ll work in practice. It’s a win for athletes, but the NCAA’s old model is officially on its way out.