Attorney General Marty Jackley said a court is ruling in the state’s favor over the location of a lawsuit involving a challenge against the NCAA.
Jackley is suing the NCAA on behalf of SDSU and USD over a $2.8 billion settlement between the NCAA and the “Power Four” conferences. That settlement resolves claims the NCAA violated antitrust laws by limiting the compensation college athletes could receive.
Jackley argued the settlement unfairly forces smaller schools to be responsible for a disproportionate share of settlement costs.
The NCAA sought to move the case from South Dakota circuit court to a federal court, but U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier ruled against the NCAA's request.
“We intend to stop the NCAA from forcing South Dakota’s Universities and students to be responsible for $8 million in the NCAA’s mistake,” said Jackley. “This amount will negatively impact student athletes at South Dakota’s two Division I universities.”
Jackley said the lawsuit seeks to require the NCAA to hold a vote on how it intends to have schools pay for this settlement. This vote would allow South Dakota’s and other states’ universities to have a voice in the settlement.
The state’s injunction is being filed in Brookings County. Jackley says a hearing date has not yet been set.