A federal judge has signed off on an arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports.

The judge approved a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement and short.

The ruling means schools can now directly pay players through licensing deals as soon as next month.

And schools will have to pay thousands of former players who were barred from that revenue for years.

There are many questions about how this monumental change will impact college athletics.

U-K athletics director Mitch Barnhart released this statement.

The new model introduces revenue sharing with student athletes and other annual cost increases that will add approximately 20 to $30 million of expenses to our annual budget.

In addition to ongoing costs such as inflation, we are committed to navigating these challenges responsibly with the desire to maintain our high standards and support our varsity sports.

End quote.

In April, before the final agreement, University of Louisville Athletics Director Josh Hurd called this, quote the most transformative shift this industry has ever seen and, quote,