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Here's why South Dakota is trying to stop the NCAA House settlement

I asked why the state AG office decided to get involved

Author

Matt Brown
September 12, 2024

Good morning, and thanks for your continued support of Extra Points.

Back in July, Sportico reported that multiple state attorneys general were contemplating taking legal action against the NCAA over the proposed settlement terms in House. Officials in the AG offices in Montana and Tennessee indicated they were reviewing the settlement, and South Dakota’s office stated that they were “looking at available options regarding the NCAA lawsuit and settlement.”

Now, South Dakota has made its decision.

On Tuesday, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that his office has filed a complaint against the NCAA and the proposed settlement. Via the release:

The complaint, filed Tuesday in Brookings County Circuit Court, alleges that a proposed $2.8 billion settlement between the NCAA and the “Power Four” conferences unfairly forces smaller schools like the South Dakota schools to be responsible for a disproportionate share of the settlement cost.

Money from such a settlement would go to mainly “Power Four” student-athletes whose earning potential while in college was restrained by the NCAA’s amateur rules. Attorney General Jackley said while student-athletes deserve the financial award for their hard work and efforts, the burden of the settlement should not fall on the smaller universities like the South Dakota schools.

The complaint was filed on behalf of the State of South Dakota and the South Dakota Board of Regents, on behalf of both South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota.

A spokesperson for AG Jackley’s office told Extra Points that “Many different groups were involved in the discussion of filing the complaint, including the Board of Regents, the university Presidents, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Governor. Everyone voiced support for the complaint.”

So why now, especially with the House settlement potentially on thin ice? What is the AG office hoping to accomplish?

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