NCAA fans may not be too thrilled with the recent settlement, according to Paul Finebaum. The SEC Network analyst believes that the deal will have little impact on fans, particularly those from Group of 5 schools, who can expect hard times ahead.
Finebaum explained that the agreement allows each school to share up to $20.5 million with athletes over the next year and $2.7 billion over the next decade with thousands of former players. However, he warned that this will only benefit schools in Power Five conferences like football, leading to a worsening situation for fans of Group of 5 schools.
Finebaum also expressed his skepticism about NCAA President Charlie Baker’s claim that the settlement “opens a pathway to begin stabilizing college sports.” Instead, Finebaum thinks the organization is “essentially dead” and that Baker’s efforts are just a distraction. The analyst believes that the damage caused by the NCAA cannot be measured and that it’s time for people to acknowledge its failures.
Finebaum’s assessment has drawn criticism from some fans, but he remains confident in his views. The settlement may bring about short-term gains for Power Five schools, but it is unlikely to benefit fans of smaller schools or women’s sports teams in the long run.
Source: https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2025/06/finebaum-on-house-settlement-ncaa-dead-olympic-and-women-sports-crushed-football-wins.html