The NCAA loses in front of the Supreme Court, but the issue was a narrow one: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinion...0-512_gfbh.pdf
The lower court had held that the NCAA's cap on "education-related" benefits was improper, but had sustained it's rules on "non-education-related" benefits. The athletes did not appeal. The NCAA did and thus the only issue before the Court was the latter. The Court found that the NCAA is a monopoly and subject to the Sherman Act and "rule of reason" analysis. And the Court upheld the conclusion that the limits on "education-related" benefts was improper under the Sherman Act.
That, however, is a relative narrow scope of benefits. It really doesn't change much. That said, the conclusion that the NCAA has monopoly power and is subject to the Sherman Act is big. That means it's possible for another litigant to tee up the "non-education" benefits issue and put it firmly in front of the Court or at least a court (the Supreme Court ain't going to hear this twice -- some Circuit court will weigh in, eventually).
The lower court had held that the NCAA's cap on "education-related" benefits was improper, but had sustained it's rules on "non-education-related" benefits. The athletes did not appeal. The NCAA did and thus the only issue before the Court was the latter. The Court found that the NCAA is a monopoly and subject to the Sherman Act and "rule of reason" analysis. And the Court upheld the conclusion that the limits on "education-related" benefts was improper under the Sherman Act.
That, however, is a relative narrow scope of benefits. It really doesn't change much. That said, the conclusion that the NCAA has monopoly power and is subject to the Sherman Act is big. That means it's possible for another litigant to tee up the "non-education" benefits issue and put it firmly in front of the Court or at least a court (the Supreme Court ain't going to hear this twice -- some Circuit court will weigh in, eventually).
Comment