"Your career is done": Urban Meyer demands zero tolerance if college coaches break House vs. NCAA settlement rules

The recent House vs. NCAA settlement marks a turning point in college sports, allowing schools to pay athletes directly and capping revenue sharing at $20.5 million per year. The agreement also creates a new College Sports Commission with subpoena power and authority to enforce rules.

Urban Meyer, speaking Wednesday on "The Triple Option" podcast, said the overhaul could fix decades of ineffective oversight.

“For 38 years there was rules,” Meyer said. “So, the rules: it wasn't a question if there were rules. No one followed them. I shouldn't say no one; a lot of people followed them. Some people made a decision not to… Enforcement was comical."

(from 3:47 mark onwards)

Meyer added subpoena power could finally compel accountability:

“I think the punishment should be so firm that you can’t coach or play again. If you’re subpoenaed and you lie intentionally, it’s over. Your career is done.”

(from 25:28 mark onwards)

The new system requires schools to waive litigation rights by signing a participation agreement, giving the Commission final authority on discipline. Meyer called the structure a potential game-changer:

“The silliness that has gone on. I love everything I'm hearing, I really do.”

House vs. NCAA settlement overview

For more than a century, NCAA athletes were barred from profiting off their name, image and likeness (NIL). That began to change in 2019 when California passed a law allowing student-athletes to earn money from their NIL. The NCAA formally lifted its NIL restrictions in 2021 after a Supreme Court ruling against the organization.

Now, as part of the NCAA House settlement, $2.8 billion will be paid to athletes in backpay for the years 2016 through 2024. Starting July 1, schools can directly pay athletes on their roster. Payouts will be capped at 22% of revenue, projected to be $20.5 million per school for this season. Schools can divide that total among their sports as they choose.

The agreement runs for 10 years and includes escalators to raise the cap over time. Schools may opt in or out.

Also Read: 5 days after approval of House vs NCAA settlement, women athletes file appeal citing Title IX violations

About the author

Mohammad Asif Ansari is a journalist covering college football and basketball at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Technology and brings four years of experience as an NFL and EdTech writer.

While acknowledging the dominance of professional leagues like the NBA and NFL, Asif is drawn to the raw energy and unpredictability of college sports, particularly football and basketball.

Jalen Hurts stands out as Asif's all-time favorite college player, celebrated for his remarkable success on the football field and impressive leadership skills.

In his reporting, Asif seeks to capture the essence of college athletics, delving into the human stories behind the game. From the trials and triumphs of student-athletes to the strategic genius of coaches like Nick Saban, he strives to paint a vivid picture of the college sports landscape.

Asif ensures that his reporting is both informative and ethically sound, meticulously verifying sources and facts to provide readers with reliable and trustworthy content.

When not writing, Asif practices basic MMA, hones his biking skills and expands his language proficiency in Urdu and Arabic.

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Edited by Veer Badani