College Sports Seek Stability: ADs Consider Collective Bargaining Agreements

College sports are changing fast. Athletic directors now talk openly about collective bargaining with players, something that would’ve sounded wild not long ago.

After a year full of setbacks and headaches—especially with Congress stalling on a bill to protect the NCAA from antitrust lawsuits—directors are scrambling for new solutions. They’re determined to keep college sports afloat, even if it means heading in a totally new direction.

The Growing Interest in Collective Bargaining

More and more athletic directors are warming up to the idea of collective bargaining with athletes. It’s a shift that’s hard to ignore, given how much resistance there used to be.

The annual conference in Las Vegas has turned into a hotspot for these conversations. Directors are hunting for any path forward that makes sense.

The Need for a New Plan

Boise State’s Jeramiah Dickey didn’t mince words—he thinks college sports can’t keep going like this. With no antitrust exemption from Congress, the risk of lawsuits hangs over everything.

Leaders like Tennessee’s Danny White are tired of just waiting for lawmakers to fix things. They want to get out in front of the problem, not just cross their fingers and hope.

The House Settlement and Its Limitations

Back in July, the NCAA and its schools settled for $2.8 billion, hoping to put some guardrails on recruiting and player pay. That deal also created the College Sports Commission (CSC), a new agency tasked with enforcing these limits.

But here’s the catch: without an antitrust exemption, the CSC can’t really crack down. Schools and players can still fight penalties in court, so it’s not exactly a slam dunk.

The Role of the College Sports Commission

The CSC tried to get schools to sign promises not to sue if they got penalized. That plan didn’t go over well at all—state attorneys general pushed back, and lots of schools just didn’t sign on.

So, the whole industry is stuck in limbo. There’s still no good way to enforce spending limits, and everyone knows it.

Exploring Collective Bargaining as a Solution

With the current setup falling short, collective bargaining is starting to look like a real option. Legally, players would have to be considered employees to make binding agreements.

That idea still makes plenty of campus leaders nervous. They worry about costs and logistics, but a handful of athletic directors think it’s time to take a closer look.

Challenges and Considerations

Collective bargaining isn’t simple. Who gets to bargain? How do you group the athletes?

And then, who negotiates on each side? Groups like Athletes.Org are starting to sketch out how this could work, and some directors and university leaders are paying attention.

Proposals and Perspectives

Athletes.Org just dropped a 35-page proposal on what a collective bargaining agreement could look like. They’re trying to answer the practical questions that have stalled talks in the past.

People like Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud and Tennessee’s Danny White seem intrigued. They’re pushing for a system where athletes have a real say in the rules.

Potential Benefits of Collective Bargaining

Fans, coaches, and players are all tired of not knowing what’s next. Supporters of collective bargaining say it could finally bring some stability and predictability to college sports.

If everyone knows the rules and pay structures, planning gets a whole lot easier. Maybe it’s not perfect, but it beats endless lawsuits and confusion.

Conclusion

College sports face a future that’s honestly a bit up in the air. Finding real, lasting solutions to the current mess is absolutely necessary.