The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has cited a recent federal court decision in Ohio to support its position in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit in North Carolina. The Ohio ruling dismissed a class-action lawsuit led by former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who alleged that the NCAA and Ohio State University violated antitrust laws by prohibiting student-athletes from profiting from their names, images, and likenesses (NIL). Chief Judge Sarah Morrison determined that Pryor’s claims were filed beyond the four-year statute of limitations, rendering them time-barred. Additionally, the court recognized Ohio State’s immunity under state sovereignty protections. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/ncaa-ohio-state-defeat-class-action-over-student-atheletes-pay-2025-07-18/?utm_source=openai))
In North Carolina, members of the 1983 North Carolina State University men’s basketball team have filed a similar antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging unauthorized use of their NIL. The NCAA has referenced the Ohio ruling to argue that the North Carolina claims are also time-barred. However, the North Carolina Business Court has declined to stay the proceedings, indicating that the NCAA has not demonstrated a “substantial injustice” that would warrant halting the case. ([law360.com](https://www.law360.com/sports-and-betting/articles/2316028/ncaa-can-t-use-ny-case-to-halt-nc-state-83-team-s-nil-suit-?utm_source=openai))
These legal developments occur amid significant changes in the NCAA’s approach to athlete compensation. In June 2025, a federal judge approved a $2.8 billion settlement allowing college athletes to receive direct revenue sharing from their schools, fundamentally altering the landscape of college athletics. This settlement requires the NCAA and Power Five Conferences to pay over $2.5 billion to athletes for prior use of their NIL and permits direct revenue sharing moving forward. ([natlawreview.com](https://natlawreview.com/article/antitrust-labor-markets-28-billion-ncaa-settlement-reshapes-college-athletics?utm_source=openai))
Despite these reforms, the NCAA continues to face legal challenges from former athletes seeking compensation for past NIL usage. The organization has consistently argued that such claims are barred by statutes of limitations and previous settlements. For instance, in April 2025, a federal judge dismissed an antitrust lawsuit filed by former Kansas basketball player Mario Chalmers and others, ruling that their claims were time-barred and precluded by prior class-action settlements. ([si.com](https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/mario-chalmers-nil-lawsuit-against-ncaa-dismissed-over-statute-of-limitations?utm_source=openai))
As the NCAA navigates these legal battles, the outcomes of cases like those in Ohio and North Carolina will likely influence the organization’s liability concerning past NIL practices. The courts’ interpretations of statutes of limitations and the applicability of previous settlements will be pivotal in determining the extent of the NCAA’s financial obligations to former student-athletes.