Years of tectonic shifts around college sports could soon usher in an era its leaders and administrators have long tried to avoid: the treatment of college athletes as employees. Every single one considers it an inevitability that college athletes will eventually be considered employees. If only private-school athletes are allowed to organize, the NCAA would have a conundrum considering it has largely tried to treat all college athletes similarly. That’s a weighty ask for college athletes who have a limited period of time to play and position themselves to advance to the pros. Would a union negotiate academic requirements on behalf of athletes, or would college sports fully abandon its ties to academics?

Source: New York Times March 04, 2024 20:21 UTC