On behalf of the SEC, commissioner Mike Slive has issued a statement in response to a federal judge’s recent landmark ruling that the NCAA’s limits on what major college football and men’s basketball players can receive for playing sports “unreasonably restrain trade” in violation of antitrust laws.

“We are pleased that the judge recognized the educational component of college athletics, and the importance of integrating academics and athletics in this decision,” Slive said in a statement. “There are a number of legal questions of some significance that must be answered to fully understand the ultimate consequence of this decision, and how to comply with it.

“Together with the change in NCAA governance that was approved just a day earlier, this decision reemphasizes the fact that we are going through a historic evolution of the landscape of college sports and it is incumbent upon all of us to be thoughtful and deliberate in building a better future for our institutions and our student-athletes.”

RELATED: Spurrier reacts to O’Bannon ruling

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled in favor a group of plaintiffs led by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon who wanted likeness rights.

In its ruling, the court issued an injunction which will prevent the NCAA “from enforcing any rules or bylaws that would prohibit its member schools and conferences from offering their FBS football or Division I basketball recruits a limited share of the revenues generated from the use of their names, images, and likenesses in addition to a full grant-in-aid.”