Following a series of legal losses in the aftermath of a landmark Supreme Court decision three years ago, the NCAA now seeks to regain its footing on compensation issues concerning athletes. The organization is shifting its battleground, moving from the courthouse to Capitol Hill.
The NCAA’s ongoing legal struggle has been to resist transformations in the compensatory rules for its athletes. The organization’s recent losses in court have compelled it to approach the issue from a different angle, seeking change through legislative means.
Two U.S. Senators, Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), are supporting these initiatives. They have proposed legislation aimed at overturning many of the unfavorable court rulings against the NCAA. However, difficulties still persist for the organization. Just last week, a court decision mandated the allowance of licensing agreements for recruits. Furthermore, athletes at Dartmouth College stand poised to vote on whether to form a union next week.
In a recent episode of the podcast ‘On The Merits’, Bloomberg Law reporters Diego Areas Munhoz, Katie Arcieri, and Parker Purifoy discussed the legal woes faced by the NCAA, the pending union vote at Dartmouth, and related legislative matters before Congress. Listeners can subscribe to the podcast through multiple platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Megaphone, or Audible.
Despite the transition from courtroom to congress, the NCAA remains at a pivotal crossroad in its ongoing legal conflicts over athlete compensation. For legal professionals monitoring developments in sports law and the intersection of law and legislation, these developments may present intriguing case studies.