Brent Jacquette, a former collegiate soccer player and current executive at an athletic recruiting consulting firm, expressed surprise and concern over the N.C.A.A.'s $2.8 billion settlement in a class-action antitrust lawsuit. The settlement, if approved, would allow Division I athletes to be paid directly by their schools, marking a significant shift in collegiate sports. Many are uncertain about the implications, particularly regarding the financial burden on smaller institutions, the fairness of compensation for female athletes, and the overall impact on college sports. While the settlement represents a milestone, experts caution that it is just one of many changes reshaping the landscape of college athletics.