Ohio State University has agreed to pay out around $100 million in a settlement regarding allegations from hundreds of ex-student athletes who are claiming sexual abuse by a doctor that took place at the school decades ago. The agreement was made Wednesday.
Since 2018, the university has been battling federal lawsuits from ex-student athletes regarding the school’s alleged failure to end the claimed abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss. From 1978-98, Strauss was employed at the university and operated a clinic that was off-campus. In 2005, he passed away. (RELATED: Russell Wilson Announces Retirement From NFL, Joining CBS Sports)
In a Wednesday meeting, the university’s board of trustees gave approval to a preliminary agreement with the 280 survivors with the exception of one, whose allegations are in litigation that’s still pending. After completed, OSU‘s settlement could be the conclusion to a long battle in court and bring an end to a distressing chapter in the history of the college.
“The survivors of the Strauss abuse are all Buckeyes, will always be a part of our family and our community, and I firmly believe that,” stated Ohio State president Ravi Bellamkonda in the meeting, per ESPN. “We continue to be very grateful to them for their courage in coming forward, and reaching a final resolution is very important to us and is an important step forward.”
Ohio State reached a $100 million settlement with hundreds of former student athletes who said university doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused them.
The school previously reached six separate settlements totaling $61 million with 317 other victims.https://t.co/e2M9zyRJkm
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 4, 2026
An independent report from years ago had came to the conclusion that university personnel was aware of the allegations against Strauss, with original claims being brought to the light in 1979. However, for years, they allegedly failed to launch an investigation or take any action that was meaningful.
Wednesday, in a joint statement, Ohio State and plaintiffs issued a thank you to mediators and stated that the settlements’ details were getting finalized, per ESPN.
According to the university, the school has already made settlements with a total of 317 survivors for over $61 million. A lot of the ex-student athletes kept their identities secret in signed sealed agreements. Per an attorney involved in a related lawsuit, a few former NFL players were named victims.