NCAA, Ohio State defeat class action over student atheletes' pay

By Mike Scarcella

July 18 (Reuters) - The National Collegiate Athletic Association on Friday persuaded a federal judge in Ohio to dismiss a lawsuit seeking compensation for thousands of former student athletes who played team sports at The Ohio State University.

In her ruling, Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah Morrison of the federal court in Columbus, Ohio, said former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor filed his proposed class action against the NCAA, Ohio State and others too late.

Pryor, who played for Ohio State from 2008 to 2010, accused the NCAA and other defendants of violating antitrust law by barring members of the school's sports teams from seeking to profit from the commercial use of their names, images and likeness.

The NCAA in a statement welcomed the judge's ruling and said "we are hopeful that additional copycat cases will see the same outcome."

Ohio State and attorneys for the plaintiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Pryor in his lawsuit said the NCAA and others have continued to make money from the use of his name, image and likeness through videos and other broadcasts.

Plaintiffs generally face a four-year window to bring claims under U.S. antitrust law.

“Mr. Pryor knew the material facts underlying his antitrust claims long before the four-year limitations period had run,” Morrison said.

Morrison also ruled that Ohio State as a public school and arm of the state was immune from the lawsuit.

The NCAA this year revamped its rules over compensation for college athletes, agreeing for the first time to allow schools to pay students directly.

As part of the landmark settlement, the organization agreed to pay $2.8 billion in a landmark settlement to compensate thousands of current and former athletes since 2016 for the commercial use of their names, images and likenesses.

The NCAA separately faces a growing number of lawsuits over player eligibility, as students challenge a rule that says athletes are eligible to compete in no more than four seasons within five years of having enrolled in college.

The case is Terrelle Pryor v. National Collegiate Athletic Association et al, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, No. 2:24-cv-04019-SDM-EPD.

For plaintiffs: Michael G. Simon and Kevin Pearl of Frankovitch, Anetakis, Simon, Decapio & Pearl; and Michael J. Shaheen and Diane Senakievich of Shaheen Law Group

For NCAA: Rakesh Kilaru of Wilkinson Stekloff; and Keith Shumate of Squire Patton Boggs

For Ohio State: Rob Ware and Jen Roach of Thompson Hine

Read more:

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NCAA faces appeals after judge approves landmark $2.8 billion settlement

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