 Competitive Excellence Fund Launched; House Settlement Update from Brian White6/8/2025 | General BOCA RATON, Fla. — As collegiate athletics continues to evolve, the anticipated approval of the Grant House vs. NCAA settlement was finalized Friday evening. The approval is a landmark moment in Division I athletics which opens the door for revenue sharing with student-athletes and allows for the increase in the number of scholarships schools are permitted to offer, among other significant changes. Prepared to embrace this new era, Florida Atlantic Athletics has established the Competitive Excellence Fund to be the driving force behind the mission of creating a brighter future for FAU through student-athlete success. “Florida Atlantic Athletics has been, and will continue to be, at the forefront in providing earning opportunities for our student-athletes,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White. “We embraced Name, Image and Likeness from its inception and have been highly competitive, both within our conference and nationally, in providing those resources. Now for more than a year, university leadership have been strategically preparing for FAU to remain competitive in revenue sharing with our student-athletes. Our primary focus is to win championships. To do that, we must always offer a student-athlete experience reflective of that vision.” The Competitive Excellence Fund allows Florida Atlantic to provide a premier student-athlete experience where the Owls can compete at the highest level and win championships. Additionally, it lets FAU Athletics be strategic in directing the funds to address the department’s priorities of greatest need. For more information on making your TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation today, contact the Paradise Club or click the link here: Give Today! Student-Athlete Marketplace You can still support your favorite Florida Atlantic student-athletes directly through the Owls’ Opendorse Marketplace. Via the Marketplace, student-athletes can sign traditional Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, offer video shoutouts, appearances, autographs and more! Click the link below to access the Owls’ Marketplace. Owls Marketplace Student-Athlete Merchandise Purchasing custom branded gear is yet another way to support your favorite current and former Florida Atlantic student-athletes. Merch is custom to each athlete, with purchases benefiting the athlete. Individual athletes work directly with the providers, and not all athletes’ merch may be available. Click the links below to purchase merch from the following providers. Athletes Thread Campus Ink Influxer The Changing Landscape Friday’s approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement will have a far-reaching impact on college sports and make donor programs more vital than ever. As a result of the new regulations, the Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) model will evolve as well, requiring greater transparency and compliance. Cultivating and securing these opportunities will help FAU recruit and retain top talent, allowing us to build and sustain an elite rosters of student-athletes. Grant House is an Arizona State swimmer who, along with TCU basketball player Sedona Prince filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA in 2020, seeking name, image and likeness damages and an injunction to allow revenue sharing with student-athletes. That lawsuit and two others were combined, and over several years, the dispute yielded the proposed settlement that will create a new substructure for college sports.In May 2024, the NCAA voted to settle the lawsuit, agreeing to a revenue-sharing model allowing member institutions to distribute funds to Division I athletes. On June 6, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement to take effect July 1, 2025.#WIP |
