December 8, 2025
College athletics continues to be plagued by uncertainty, litigation and confusion for athletes, administrators and fans alike. This uncertainty continues to create a lack of structure for the future of industry, there is only one answer to protect both athletes and the institutions they represent in competition: collective bargaining. That’s why, today, Athletes.org (AO), the players association for college athletes, is releasing the first-ever framework of terms of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) designed to finally bring structure, fairness and sustainability to college sports.
Read the CBA at athletes.org/CBA.
Athletes.org developed this proposed CBA with direct input from current and recently graduated college athletes representing the perspectives, opinions and experiences of more than 5,000 AO members. In parallel, AO gained feedback from across the industry, organizing discussions with conference commissioners, athletic directors, general managers and legal experts with experience in collective bargaining at the professional level and a deep understanding of the collegiate space to ensure the proposed terms reflect the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
“Everyone knows the current model of college sports is a ticking time bomb. Some believe that more money can solve the issues, but more revenue with no reform of the foundation will simply mean bigger damages owed to this generation of college athletes ahead. The fundamental conflict of interest between athletes and the industry that profits from their work hasn’t been fixed,” said Brandon Copeland, co-founder of Athletes.org. “While some still hope Congress will bail out a repeat antitrust offender, we’re focused on creating the one solution that actually works: bringing athletes to the table as real partners with a real say in their future. That’s why AO is proud to share this model for a CBA with the world today. A framework that has been poured into by athletes and many leaders across industry who want to ensure that college athletics has a sustainable, and stable future.”
This proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement represents the future of college athletics and what a comprehensive system could look like. This model replaces the fragmented Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) system with a unified, enforceable structure. By consolidating revenue sharing into a single income stream and introducing performance-based contracts, the framework provides a fair and practical model for athlete compensation and negotiation.
The document outlines:
- Clear terms for a formal agreement between athletes and a governing body,
- Comparisons to professional sports standards, and
- Benefits for all parties involved in this necessary solution.
Collective bargaining has long been the foundation of stability and growth in professional sports and it can serve the same purpose in college athletics. Through structured agreements, athletes and universities can work together to protect the integrity of college sports while ensuring fairness and long-term sustainability.
Why a Collective Bargaining Agreement Is Needed Now:
- Inconsistent Standards: College athletic programs operate under vastly different policies, exposing athletes, coaches and administrators to unnecessary risk. A CBA would establish a consistent, enforceable baseline for all.
- Litigation Risk: The surge in lawsuits across college sports continues to draw in new parties and result in significant settlements. Representation through an independent athletes’ association, Athletes.org, would provide athletes with their own mechanism to weigh in on the terms of their participation.
- House Settlement Limitations: While the recent House settlement offers temporary protection, it lacks comprehensive coverage and the legal safeguards of a formal labor exemption.
- Congressional Alignment: By proactively creating a non-employee collective bargaining model, schools can show Congress a sustainable path forward on athlete rights while and in doing so, garnering greater support for potential antitrust protections and bipartisan legislative engagement.
While this draft reflects the structure and economics of what is possible within college football, this is only the beginning. The framework is designed to expand and adapt to other sports across the collegiate ecosystem, always prioritizing fairness, transparency and athlete representation.
In professional leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL and NWSL, collective bargaining has transformed competition into enduring partnerships that have generated billions in value. It is now time for college athletics to evolve, voluntarily, proactively and collaboratively, into this fruitful and modern model.
“For decades, athletes have carried the weight of a system they had no real voice in,” Copeland said. “This framework changes that. It creates a modern partnership where athletes contribute, institutions succeed and everyone who chooses to participate in this route forward finally operates under the same transparent, enforceable standards. That’s how you protect the games, sports and athletes we all love.”
Athletes.org, “The Players Association for College Athletes,” is a voluntary membership organization whose membership includes more than 5,000 current and former college athletes. AO exists to educate, organize, and represent college athletes as their chosen players association in an attempt to ensure their seat at the table in the ever-changing landscape of college sports.
– ATHLETES.ORG –
SUPPORT OF ATHLETES.ORG’S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
“We’ve spent way too long reacting to court cases and chasing legislation while the status quo becomes less and less sustainable for our campuses and our athletes. We don’t need to sit back and hope Congress fixes college sports for us – we need a collectively-bargained framework that brings schools and athletes to the same table, sets clear national rules, and creates a healthier, long-term model. AO’s CBA draft isn’t the final word, but it’s exactly the kind of concrete proposal we should be engaging with if we want college sports to still be thriving a decade from now.”
– Danny White, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, University of Tennessee
“When athletes unite through collective bargaining, they transform from individual players into a unified force. This power shift not only secures their rights and fair compensation but also guarantees them a voice in shaping the future of their sports. Having a seat at the table means athletes are no longer just participants…they begin a formation for their own careers.”
– Angelina Vasquez, Track & Field Athlete, UNLV
Athletes.org Executive Committee
“Look, I’m thrilled that players are finally getting compensated the way they deserve – that part is long overdue. If we want college sports to survive and stay healthy, we’ve got to move from chaos to a real system: a level playing field, a true cap everyone lives by, clear rules on transfers and calendars, and something that keeps us out of court every offseason. That’s why I think in addition to working with Congress on legislative options, what Athletes.org is doing with this proposed collective bargaining agreement is important – it’s an actual framework where athletes and schools can sit down, bargain in good faith, and build something that’s fair for the players and sustainable for the programs.”
– Bruce Pearl, Former Head Coach, Auburn Men’s Basketball
“It’s time to bridge the gap between what’s right for the players and the NCAA. A CBA is the fair, honest way to make things right.”
– Justin Wodtly, Football Player, Arizona State University
Athletes.org Executive Committee
“I have long believed that collective bargaining between a national association of institutions and a representative student-athlete organization is the only realistic way to preserve what makes college sports special. Athletes.org’s conceptual Collective Bargaining Agreement is an important step toward that kind of partnership-based framework—one where athletes have a real collective voice in setting the rules, and schools can compete on a fair and sustainable playing field instead of racing each other to the bottom and litigating every challenge. I’m encouraged to see this conversation happening more openly, so everyone can fully understand what’s at stake. I support efforts to bring all stakeholders together to collaboratively shape our shared future.”
– Kent Syverud, Chancellor and President, Syracuse University
“This CBA is the right way forward for college athletes. It finally gives us a say in what we have all dedicated our time, hard work and bodies to. This is how we bring lasting peace to college sports.”
– Chief Borders, Football Player, UNLV
Athletes.org Executive Committee
“I believe college athletics is a higher calling with an elevating and transformative effect on the countless number of lives it positively impacts. However, we are facing a pivotal moment and must embrace the inevitable change. In order to do that successfully, we need to have all parties at the table to forge a path to a future with clear enforceable rules, alignment with our educational academy and a durable framework that appropriately shares both the investment and growth of our entire enterprise in a stable and sustainable way. Undoubtedly, it’s a complicated road to travel and new ideas will always oblige scrutiny and criticism. We can’t let that deter us. Athletes.org’s CBA draft may not be perfect today, but it’s one of the first concrete blueprints I’ve seen which integrates the athlete’s side of this paradigm shift. It includes the student-athlete’s very necessary perspective around their rights and realities but it also identifies pathways for a wider athlete ecosystem of general participation and Olympic hopefuls. There’s more work to do but efforts like this move the conversation from abstract talking points to workable solutions.”
– Joe Castiglione, Vice President and Director of Athletics, University of Oklahoma
“In the complex landscape that college athletes are currently navigating, protecting our experience is quickly becoming a necessary topic that has yet to be formally acknowledged. Collective bargaining legislation is the next best step for college athletes to finally have a voice in matters that directly impact us on a daily basis.”
– Jada Brown, Women’s Basketball Player, Vanderbilt
Athletes.org Executive Committee
