The “CBA Blueprint” Is a Trojan Horse: Why Athletes.org’s Plan Fast-Tracks the Professionalization of College Sports
Athletes.org’s (AO) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Framework aims to replace the current NIL compensation model with a system that pays athletes for their athletic services, effectively treating them as employees. This shift towards a professional model raises concerns about athlete protections, centralized control, and the impact on non-revenue sports. While the framework includes athlete-forward proposals, it also establishes a framework for league-like governance and enforcement.
Playing the Fifth: College Athletes versus the NCAA’s Redshirt Rule
Summary
A group of college athletes has filed a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA’s redshirt rule, arguing that the limitation of four years of competition within a five-year eligibility window violates antitrust law and restricts their ability to earn income from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. The athletes advocate for “five years to practice, five years to graduate, five years to play,” emphasizing the lost opportunities caused by the current rule. Previous lawsuits and involvement from the Department of Justice highlight growing legal pressure on the NCAA’s control over athlete eligibility and compensation. This legal battle reflects a broader movement to reform longstanding amateurism rules in college sports and ensure athletes have fair access to both competition and earning potential.