Should Congress Grant the NCAA an Antitrust Exemption?

Since the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision in NCAA v. Alston paved the way for universities to pay student-athletes, college sports have changed dramatically. Now, the NCAA is asking for an antitrust exemption to help navigate these changes.

The NCAA is surely facing a complex set of challenges, but an antitrust exemption is a big ask. This raises the question: Is an antitrust exemption a reasonable response to the current challenges facing college sports, a uniquely American institution?

Val Ackerman is the commissioner of the Big East Conference. Previously, she was the founding president of the WNBA.

Jim Cavale is the founder of Athletes.org.

Ross Dellenger is a senior college football reporter at Yahoo Sports.

Matthew Mitten is the executive director of National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University.

Katherine Van Dyck is the founder of KVD Strategies.

Note: This episode is adapted from the most recent installment of the American Enterprise Institute’s Education Policy Debate Series, which was held at AEI on February 27. A video recording of the debate can be found here.