The Ohio Valley Conference shared an update regarding its members’ approach to the proposed House vs. National Collegiate Athletic Association et al. settlement, emphasizing the Conference’s collaborative spirit while acknowledging various implementation considerations among member institutions.
The proposed settlement aims to create opportunities for student-athletes to receive additional benefits from their participation in intercollegiate athletics while establishing oversight systems to ensure fair competition.
“OVC institutions have a long history of working together and supporting one another,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “While the decision to opt into the House settlement remains an institutional one, our member schools have maintained open dialogue throughout this process. They acknowledge that due to variations in sports sponsorships and projected roster sizes for the 2025-26 academic year, they may initially pursue different approaches to the settlement."
Each institution’s immediate decisions are guided by its assessment of how to best serve its student-athletes’ needs.
“Over its 77-year history, the OVC has successfully adapted to the changing landscape of collegiate athletics, and this situation is no exception, DeBauche added. “The OVC remains united in our commitment to serving student-athletes and will continue to work collaboratively toward approaches that strengthen our conference and support our institutions.”