In a recent appearance on The Triple Option podcast, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark reflected positively on Judge Claudia Wilken’s approval of the landmark House v. NCAA settlement.
His comments echo a historic turning point in collegiate athletics, particularly for the Big 12.
“Glad it was approved,” Yormark said. “We’ve been waiting. It’s been a waiting game for us for a long time. I think I can speak on behalf of my commissioner colleagues, but I am happy Judge Claudia Wilken ultimately approved the settlement.”
“This is a model, not just for now, but for the future,” Yormark continued. “We’re in a better place today as an industry than we’ve been in a long time, and there’s guardrails, there’s rules of engagement, there’s a new model, and as I often say to my board, my ADs, and anyone that’ll listen, it’s progress over perfection.”
Yormark emphasized that the new system offers real governance and accountability, with a new College Sports Commission and a Deloitte-run NIL clearinghouse taking the reins away from an incredibly flawed NCAA enforcement model.
He highlighted several key aspects of the settlement, including an overall recruiting boost through formalized payout structures, enhanced compliance and cohesion among Power conferences, and a financial commitment through the structuring of future athlete compensation.
Yormark finished his thoughts by saying, “It’s going to be a little clunky. It’s not going to be perfect coming out of the gates, but it’s better than where we’ve been, and a lot of progress has been made.”
