Athletes.org Proposes First College Football CBA: What It Means for the Future of College Sports

What Is the Athletes.org Proposed CBA?

Athletes.org, a voluntary players association representing over 5,000 current and former college athletes, has drafted the first-ever framework for a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in college athletics. The goal: to bring structure, fairness, and long-term sustainability to a college sports ecosystem currently shaped by lawsuits, fractured NIL systems, and legal uncertainty.

This is a four-year proposal, initially focused on FBS football, but it was designed to be adaptable to other sports in the future.

What’s in the Proposed CBA?

Here are the key components of the proposed framework, based on the CBA document and AO’s own commentary:

1. Revenue Sharing Built In

• Templated revenue-sharing model between schools and athletes.

• Revenue share percentages would be set annually by sport and conference, accounting for the sport’s pro rata contribution to institutional revenues.

• Includes both a compensation cap and a minimum spending floor to ensure consistent athlete support across programs.

2. Eligibility and Playing Limits

• Athletes would get five years of eligibility from the time they enroll.

• An age limit is proposed, which would be determined through negotiations between the athlete association and governing entity.

3. Position-Based Pay Caps for First-Year Players

• For athletes in their first year under the revenue-sharing model (including freshmen and transfers), a per-position compensation cap would be introduced.

• This helps standardize entry-point pay and limit bidding wars while maintaining market integrity.

4. Third-Party NIL Fully Deregulated

• The CBA removes any NCAA-style restrictions on third-party NIL deals.

• However, a “Fair Market Value” system managed by a College Sports Commission would guide athlete and institutional NIL arrangements.

5. Certified Agent System

• Agents representing athletes must pass a certification exam, undergo background checks, and comply with defined ethics guidelines.

• Creates a standardized regulatory framework similar to professional leagues.

6. Health, Safety, and Academic Support Standards

• The CBA includes sections dedicated to:

  • Mental health care access

  • Injury reporting protocols

  • Academic progress safeguards

  • Support for career transition (e.g., post-collegiate career planning)

7. Independent Oversight

• A College Sports Commission would be created to oversee dispute resolution, compliance, and regulatory standards across the system.

• Includes a multi-employer bargaining framework, similar to professional league structures.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

The implications of this proposed agreement are massive. Here’s why:

It Gives Athletes a Seat at the Table

For decades, athletes had to conform to rules made without their input. This framework introduces the potential for athletes to negotiate working conditions, benefits, and compensation, rather than being passive recipients of policy.

It Could Replace the Current Patchwork NIL System

Rather than depending on unregulated collectives and state-by-state laws, the CBA aims to unify NIL, revenue sharing, and eligibility standards into a single enforceable agreement.

It Could Preempt Congressional Intervention

With Congress considering federal legislation on athlete employment, antitrust exemptions, and NIL regulation (like the SCORE Act), the CBA offers a self-governed alternative that could ease pressure on lawmakers while demonstrating proactive reform.

The Hurdles Ahead

While this framework is comprehensive and bold, it’s not without challenges:

No “Employer” Yet

For a CBA to be legally binding, athletes must be classified as employees under federal labor law. That hasn’t happened yet. And even if it does, who would bargain with them - the NCAA? Conferences? Individual schools?

Voluntary Membership Model

Athletes.org represents over 5,000 athletes, but that’s a small slice of the total college athlete population. For a CBA to truly be representative, greater participation and recognition would be needed, especially from power programs.

Legal and Political Pushback

Any attempt to formalize employment, revenue sharing, or centralized bargaining will face stiff legal and political resistance - particularly from institutions wary of tax implications, Title IX complications, and increased operational costs.

What Are People Saying?

Here are some quotes from stakeholders about the proposal:

“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.”

— Danny White, Athletic Director, University of Tennessee

“This framework changes that. It creates a modern partnership where athletes contribute, institutions succeed, and everyone who chooses to participate…operates under the same transparent, enforceable standards.”

— Brandon Copeland, CEO, Athletes.org

Bottom Line

This CBA is a first-of-its-kind attempt to professionalize college sports without sacrificing its core identity. Whether or not it becomes law, it signals a growing movement toward structure, fairness, and mutual accountability between athletes and institutions.

Even if AO’s draft isn’t adopted as-is, it may serve as the blueprint for the future of college athletics.