The NCAA cannot restrict education-related benefits
Scholarships for graduate studies
Payment for academic achievement
Free laptops
Did not directly effect broader compensation (NIL)
Procedural History
In District Court many student athletes were in search for a change in the NCAA's compensation rules
District Court stated that schools should have to pay for athletes items that are related to their academics
The court of appeals affirmed and stated that while these student athletes need to maintain amateurism, the NCAA regulations violate antitrust laws
Relevant Cases
NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
Restricted the NCAA from controlling the television market related to football games
O'bannon v. NCAA
Student Athletes scholarships should cover more
NCAA v. Alston
Core Issue
Background
Do the NCAA's rules related to student-athlete compensation violate antitrust laws?
Antitrust laws are in place to limit monopolies
Sherman Act
Every contract, combination in the form of trust or other- wise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal.
Shawne Alston was a former running back for the West Virginia Mountaineers and he was representing collegiate student athletes
The National Collegiate Athletics Association is a non-profit organization that regulates student athletes across over 1,100 colleges