October 3: Pros as Proof of NCAA Cartel (Inside Higher Ed)

As the landmark antitrust lawsuit O’Bannon vs. National Collegiate Athletic Association trudges its way through the courts, studies on the monetary value athletes bring to their colleges seem more pertinent than ever. That lawsuit, which argues that athletes are entitled to a portion of that revenue, could ultimately compel the NCAA to adopt a more professionalized model.

Previous studies have found that under such a model, football and men’s basketball players in conferences in the top half of Division I, the Football Bowl Series are worth an annual average of more than $137,000 and $289,000, respectively. That’s well above the average full FBS annual scholarship, which is worth $23,000.