Keep Title IX compliance in mind when revenue-sharing with student-athletes

Abstract

The NCAA, together with the Power Conferences, settled a series of federal antitrust lawsuits this past May by agreeing to establish a pay-for-play system for its Division I student-athletes. This new financial structure requires that colleges and universities share 20–22% of their athletics department revenue with their student-athletes, capped at $20 million per year. No part of the proposed settlement agreement addresses, however, how this new financial model would impact gender equity, which is noteworthy because of the ongoing debate as to whether Title IX applies to issues surrounding compensation.