Court: United States District Court, District of Colorado
DeJuan Campbell, et al. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Case no. 26-cv-03635
WBE and co-counsel filed this class action antitrust lawsuit challenging the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (“NCAA”) new age-based eligibility rules, which plaintiffs allege unlawfully restrict Division I student athletes from competing; earning name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation; and accessing scholarships and significant revenue-sharing compensation.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, alleges that the NCAA’s new eligibility system violates federal antitrust laws by arbitrarily limiting the amount of time certain college athletes can compete in the marketplace for Division I college athletics.
The new age-based rule also substantially limits the circumstances in which athletes can receive exceptions to the eligibility clock, only allowing exemptions for reasons involving pregnancy, religious missions or similar service commitments, and active-duty military service. Circumstances such as injuries, family emergencies, financial difficulties, and other hardships generally do not qualify for a waiver.
Plaintiffs contend that the NCAA’s age-based eligibility rule artificially restricts the supply of eligible Division I athletes and reduces competition among schools seeking to recruit and retain athletes, concentrating power in schools and conferences that have established dominance over the recruiting pool.
Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for economic losses allegedly caused by the NCAA’s new rule, including treble damages under federal antitrust law, a declaration that the age-based rule is unlawful, and injunctive relief to prevent the NCAA from enforcing the rule.