OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has decided not to participate in the NCAA’s House settlement for the 2025-26 academic year, according to an announcement made on Friday. Instead, the university is looking toward a future where it might take part in the settlement when the time is right.
UNO’s Chancellor, Joanne Li, and Athletic Director, Adrian Dowell, shared their views in a joint statement. They emphasized that the university is dedicated to supporting its student-athletes while navigating these changes in college sports. “The recent court approval of the NCAA’s House settlement marks a historic shift in college athletics,” the statement conveyed. “Although we welcome the approval and intent of the settlement, our mission remains to protect the interests of our current student-athletes while honoring UNO’s core values.”
UNO stated that choosing to opt into the settlement at this time would lead to “unresolved variables at a time when clarity is critical.” These variables include concerns related to Title IX compliance, oversight of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements, and regulations affecting international student-athletes.
The newly approved House settlement will require any NIL deals over $600 to go through a review process managed by Deloitte and the College Sports Commission, which is controlled by the four major athletic conferences. UNO expressed worries about the transparency of the Commission’s enforcement methods, penalties, and associated costs.
About 15% of UNO’s athletes are international students, which is especially significant because around 30% of athletes in revenue-generating sports fall under this category, including 80% of the men’s hockey team. The university pointed out that directly paying student-athletes may lead to complications related to visa statuses, taxes, and financial aid.
Over the past three years, UNO athletics has seen considerable success, competing in 16 conference title games, winning 11 championships, and making eight NCAA tournament appearances. Officials at UNO expressed their commitment to monitoring the situation closely and may consider opting into the settlement in the future.
The statement concluded with a focus on strategy and responsibility: “UNO’s approach is rooted in strategy, responsibility, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of a successful student-athlete experience. By choosing flexibility now, we are preserving the environment that made this success possible while positioning Omaha Athletics to thrive in the years ahead.”
