Indianapolis ? The NCAA plans to ease restrictions on educational expenses for current student-athletes while setting aside $10 million to reimburse former athletes as part of a tentative class-action lawsuit settlement.

The agreement, which a judge must approve and both sides review before becoming final, stems from a federal antitrust lawsuit filed in February 2006 by two former football players and a former basketball player from California.

Initially, NCAA officials said the case had no merit. The proposed settlement includes the governing body’s denial of wrongdoing.