"NCAA Convention to Debate Future of Athlete Compensation and Proposed Subdivision Reforms"

NCAA President Charlie Baker has proposed a significant change to college sports, suggesting that schools should be able to negotiate NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals directly with athletes and establish trust funds of up to $30,000 per athlete. This proposal, which could lead to a new subdivision within the NCAA for rules-making, will be discussed at the NCAA Convention and could be adopted in parts, with the first actions potentially taking place as early as August. While there is general support for the proposal, there are concerns about its implementation and legal implications, especially regarding the financial burden on schools and the potential for further legal and legislative challenges to the NCAA's model of athlete compensation.