5 Louisville Cardinals who deserve the most back pay from the NCAA settlementBelow is a…read more…

5 Louisville Cardinals who deserve the most back pay from the NCAA settlementBelow is a…read more…   Louisville Cardinals who deserve the most back pay from the NCAA settlement”, incorporating context on the landmark settlement and player profiles.

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House v. NCAA Settlement Promises Major Pay‑Back for Louisville’s Star Athletes

On June 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken granted final approval to the historic class‑action House v. NCAA settlement. This landmark ruling, resolving three separate antitrust lawsuits, will distribute $2.8 billion in back payments—covering name, image, and likeness (NIL) restrictions from 2016 to 2024—to current and former Division I athletes. In addition, institutions may begin direct athlete compensation, capped at $20.5 million annually, starting July 1, 2025 .

Within this historic framework, the Louisville Cardinals have several standout alumni poised for significant compensation. Here are five former players most deserving of the back pay:

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5. Jordan Nwora

A two‑time All‑ACC honoree, Nwora surged in 2018–19, averaging 17.0 points and earning Most Improved Player honors. His junior season saw him named to multiple All‑American teams, averaging 18.0 points and 7.7 rebounds—leading Louisville’s offense at the time .

4. Dez Fitzpatrick

A top wide receiver in Cardinals history, Fitzpatrick ranks sixth in school history with 2,589 yards and 21 touchdowns. He earned Second‑Team All‑ACC recognition and recorded eight 100‑yard receiving games—attributes likely to amplify his NIL earnings from football revenue .

3. Malik Cunningham

A dynamic dual-threat quarterback from 2018 to 2022, Cunningham tied Lamar Jackson’s record with 50 rushing touchdowns. He ranks fourth in school history with 9,664 passing yards and 692 completions, and fifth with 70 passing touchdowns—an impressive statistical resume .

2. Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell emerged as the best basketball player at Louisville post‑2016. Averaging 15.6 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.1 steals, he earned All‑ACC honors and delivered Louisville’s last NCAA Tournament win in 2017. His pro success with multiple NBA All‑Star appearances further enhances his NIL value .

1. Lamar Jackson

The undisputed top candidate for back pay, Jackson set program records with 4,132 rushing yards and 69 career rushing touchdowns, alongside over 9,000 passing yards and 69 TD passes. He won the 2016 Heisman Trophy and remains one of just two Cardinals whose jersey has been retired—his collegiate impact was transformational .

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Bringing It All Together

Under the settlement, athletes like these are eligible to claim API-defined awards across several factors—sport, years of participation, conference, performance, and scholarship status. Schools and the NCAA will fund the back pay via a combination of NCAA reserves (~60%) and individual institutions (~40%) .

Funding through Power Five revenue is substantial: one report showed programs would likely allocate around 75% of their $20.5 million annual cap to football, with most remaining going to men’s basketball—all bolstering potential compensation for Cunningham, Jackson, and Mitchell .

Louisville finds itself unusually primed for this new era. Thanks to Kentucky legislation (Senate Bill 3) and proactive planning by Louisville athletic director Josh Heird, the school was prepared to distribute revenue-sharing benefits even before final court approval .

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The Bigger Picture

As Division I institutions transition away from traditional amateurism, the settlement also introduces regulations: roster limits (with protections for current players), a new oversight body (the College Sports Commission), and NIL‑deal reporting through Deloitte’s NIL Go platform .

For Louisville’s star alumni—especially those in high-revenue football and men’s basketball—the combination of retroactive payments and immediate revenue-sharing marks a long-overdue recognition of their collegiate contributions.

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This settlement marks a seismic shift: athletes who powered multimillion-dollar sports programs are finally being paid as contributors, not just amateurs. For Cardinals like Jackson, Mitchell, Cunningham, Fitzpatrick, and Nwora, the payback is more than financial—it’s justice served.

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