Imagine a scenario where a major professional sports team like the Dallas Cowboys threatens legal action against its own division, prompting other teams to refuse to play them unless a specific player is removed from the roster. While such a situation is unimaginable in well-organized pro sports leagues, college athletics frequently navigates similar challenges.
In recent developments, the world of college sports has seen an increase in threats, lawsuits, and instability. Leading up to the 2026 season, a notable conflict between LSU and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has emerged, fueled by a series of lawsuits over player eligibility. Remarkably, players who have briefly signed with professional teams might find themselves back in the college game. Just two months earlier, the Big 12 filed a lawsuit against Texas Tech, one of its own teams.
Throughout this period, discussions of leagues potentially breaking away, the concept of “conference-led governance,” and a pending Congressional bill aiming to address these issues have been prevalent.
Duke football coach Manny Diaz commented on the situation, stating, “We can enjoy the fact that the players can benefit financially from playing in college now. At the same time, recognize the ultimate truth that we’re not a professional sports franchise. We are a collegiate, scholastic school activity, and we’ve got to rein that in.” Barbara Osborne, a professor specializing in NCAA governance, noted, “The difference between a professional sports league and collegiate athletics is literally night and day.”
Colleges, often public institutions, have their athletic departments as only a small component of the larger campus ecosystem. Unlike professional sports where financial considerations dominate, decisions in college sports are influenced by academic and administrative leaders. Even when consensus is reached among teams within a conference or division, smooth implementation is not guaranteed.
Eligibility Issues and Ongoing Legal Battles
Recently, the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule led to rules from the Big Ten and SEC prohibiting players from returning to college after pursuing professional opportunities. The Big 12 and ACC soon followed with similar regulations. Despite these developments, LSU remains intent on reinstating some professional players, with Louisiana’s governor expressing, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
The Big 12’s legal battle with Texas Tech began in June, following quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s admission of a gambling addiction. Although Sorsby withdrew from college, the lawsuit persists, arising from a state court’s temporary permission for him to play, despite the NCAA’s longstanding gambling ban.
The courts continue to play a significant role in these eligibility issues, with over 30 ongoing cases involving nearly 400 athletes challenging the NCAA’s exclusion of certain high school graduates. Plaintiffs argue for fairness, particularly as athletes now have access to revenue-sharing and endorsement deals not available in the past.
NCAA senior vice president Tim Buckley criticized the situation, stating, “Unfortunately, this is the latest example of member schools weaponizing locally elected judges to skirt member-agreed upon rules.” He emphasized that college sports should be a stepping stone to careers, rather than a fallback for athletes with professional experience.
Efforts to Address College Sports Challenges
A wide array of stakeholders, from politicians to university officials, have attempted to tackle the issues plaguing college sports, yet the stream of lawsuits continues unabated. A significant concern is the absence of a federal antitrust exemption for college sports, unlike their professional counterparts. This omission has left the NCAA vulnerable to legal challenges, particularly regarding athletes’ rights to earn endorsement income.
Numerous lawsuits since 2009 have compelled schools to adapt financially, creating new revenue strategies to accommodate the changing landscape. Eligibility issues, however, remain a legal minefield for the NCAA.
Tyrone Thomas, an attorney advising on compliance matters, remarked, “There are certain premises in college athletics that I think the public supports. We need some rules that are enforceable within the system that we’re in. But we’re in a system that’s only been around for less than a half-dozen years.”
The Senate bill aims to offer the NCAA limited legal protection regarding eligibility rulemaking. Without its passage, issues like those witnessed this summer are likely to persist.
Fundamental principles of college sports, such as the prohibition of professional players and gambling participation, are now complicated by the fact that collegiate athletes receive compensation and some schools have gambling sponsors.
Thomas suggests that the current legal challenges related to the five-year rule have a finite scope, affecting only those from the high school class of 2022 who lost eligibility. He views these as serious but not necessarily the most pressing issues facing college sports today.
