A judge granted preliminary approval Monday to the $2.78 billion legal settlement that would transform college sports by allowing schools to pay players.

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken released an order setting a timeline for a deal that would put millions of dollars into the pockets of college athletes, who can begin applying for payment on Oct. 18.

A final hearing is set for April 7, 2025, the day that one of college sports’ biggest moneymakers, March Madness, comes to a close with college basketball’s national title game. If finalized, the deal would allow the biggest schools to establish a pool of about $21.5 million in the first year to distribute money to athletes through a revenue-sharing plan. Athletes would still be able to cut name, image and likeness deals with outside groups.

Former college athletes from as far back as 2016 would be able to apply for their share of $2.576 billion set aside to help them recoup money they could’ve made from NIL deals, which weren’t allowed until 2021.

The judge’s approval comes 11 days after attorneys tweaked wording in the original settlement agreement to address Wilken’s concerns. The main change involved getting rid of the word “boosters” and replacing it with a better-defined description of whose potential NIL deals would be subject to oversight by a neutral arbitrator once the deal goes through.

Basketball

Shams Charania new ESPN NBA insider >> Shams Charania has been hired as ESPN’s senior NBA insider, replacing his mentor Adrian Wojnarowski.

Charania announced the move on social media on Monday. Wojnarowski announced on Sept. 18 he was leaving ESPN to become the general manager of St. Bonaventure’s men’s basketball team.

The 30-year-old Charania has been at The Athletic since 2018 as well as doing on-air work for Stadium and FanDuel TV.

College Football

Miami’s Cam Ward is AP player of the week >> The AP national player of the week for Week 6 is Cam Ward from the University of Miami.

The Hurricanes’ quarterback led his team back from 25 points down in the second half, leading four touchdown drives to finish a 39-38 victory at California.

Ward completed 35 of 53 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a 24-yard run. He passed for 249 yards in the fourth quarter alone, his 5-yard pass to Elijah Arroyo with 26 seconds left completing the comeback.

Ward has thrown for at least 400 yards in two of his last three games and leads the nation with 20 passing touchdowns and 369.8 passing yards per game.

Texas’ Ewers expected to be back this week >> Quinn Ewers is on track to return as the starting quarterback for No. 1 Texas this week against rival No. 18 Oklahoma, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday, adding that his recovery from an abdominal injury will be monitored all week.

Ewers missed the previous two games after leaving in the first half of a victory over UTSA with a strained abdomen. Arch Manning started in his place and led Texas (5-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) to wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State.

NFL

Patriots captain arrested >> Patriots captain Jabrill Peppers was arrested over the weekend on assault, strangulation and other charges, with police saying Peppers attacked a girlfriend after she received a phone call while they were in bed together.

Peppers, 29, appeared for his arraignment Monday in Quincy District Court. Not guilty pleas were entered on the charges, which included assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class “B” substance believed to be cocaine, court documents show.

Tampa Bay to practice in New Orleans in preparation for Hurricane Milton>> The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are planning to relocate to the New Orleans area to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Saints with Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall along Florida’s west coast.

The Bucs intend to travel Tuesday and spend the rest of the week out of state instead of practicing as usual at the team’s training facility in Tampa.

Racing

IndyCar to return to texas in 2026 >> IndyCar will return to Texas in 2026 with a street race in Arlington in a joint venture between the Dallas Cowboys and the official events partner of the Texas Rangers.

The IndyCar Arlington Grand Prix will be held in March 2026 on a 2.73-mile circuit that will feature AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys play, and Globe Life Field, where the Rangers play. The course will weave through Arlington’s core sports and entertainment district.

Tennis

Billie Jean King will be Rose PArade grand marshall >> Tennis great Billie Jean King will preside over the 136th Rose Parade as grand marshal next year.

King, who turns 81 next month, was introduced Monday in a shower of confetti on the lawn of Tournament House as “Philadelphia Freedom,” the hit song Elton John wrote for her, blared.