The US Senate recently passed the Protect College Sports Act, legislation that would provide the NCAA with an antitrust exemption when enforcing certain rules related to athlete eligibility, compensation, and transfer restrictions. If enacted, the bill could significantly limit legal challenges to the NCAA’s eligibility rules and reshape the landscape of college athletics.
McCarter & English partner Ira Gonzalez spoke with Bloomberg Law about the potential impact of the legislation on student athletes seeking to challenge NCAA decisions. “Our hands may very well be tied if this bill becomes law,” Gonzalez said. “It is effectively empowering the NCAA to continue issuing certain arbitrary rule-making and decision-making that just affects student athletes moving forward and their ability to challenge those issues in court.”