The Five Major Players Associations Oppose Antitrust Exemption/Liability Shield in College Sports

WASHINGTON. D.C., July 14, 2025 - The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), and National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) (“Players Associations”) represent the players in the five major professional sports in the U.S. Each association is governed by an executive board elected directly by the players. 

The college athletics landscape has shifted tremendously in the past few years in large part due to successful legal challenges to the NCAA and its operations. In the 2021 NCAA v. Alston Supreme Court decision the Court held that the NCAA is subject to the antitrust laws.  And the recent June 2025 House settlement ensures that athletes will receive revenue sharing from their respective universities for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

Since many of today’s college athletes will become our future members, we have a vested interest in ensuring they are protected now.

As the Energy and Commerce Committee considers the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act, the Players Associations strongly urge Committee Members to reject any antitrust exemption or legal liability shield from legislation regulating college athletics:

An Antitrust Exemption Would Permit NCAA and its Members to Collude to Harm Athletes

• Whatever progress the athletes have made has been a result of their use of the antitrust laws. The SCORE Act would take that weapon away from them.
• Granting an antitrust exemption to the NCAA and its members gives the green light for the organization and schools to collude and work against student athletes.
• Historically, antitrust exemptions have been used to set prices, limit wages, and restrict access to opportunities provided by open markets, all while shielding abuse from legal recourse.
• It is not hard to imagine a situation where NCAA and its members collude to restrict revenue sharing and deny student athletes fair compensation with the confidence of immunity against legal action. Indeed, they have been doing exactly that for decades!

Antitrust Exemptions are Rarely Granted and Should Not be Granted Here 

• Only two industries have an antitrust exemption in the entire United States of America: railroads and Major League Baseball (partial).
• The federal government has multiple agencies (FTC, DOJ) dedicated to preventing the accumulation of monopoly power and de facto antitrust status.
• The NCAA should not have a blank check to impose their will on the financial future of over 500,000 college athletes.

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About the NFL Players Association:  

The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is the union for professional football players in the NFL and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of protecting the health, safety and financial future of its more than 2,000 player members, who are the backbone of North America's most popular and highest revenue-generating sport. Through a wide offering of programs, resources and engagement opportunities, the NFLPA provides world-class service to players throughout their career lifecycle and builds solidarity to advocate on their behalf in the areas of healthcare, revenue, compensation and working conditions. The current CBA will govern the sport through the 2030 season. Learn more at nflpa.com.