Athlete compensation
FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga poses during an NCAA college football media day in Stillwater Okla. Oklahoma State University officials said Wednesday, June 3, 2020, that three returning student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 although they were not showing symptoms. Among them is OSU linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, who said on Twitter he tested positive for the virus after he attended a protest in Tulsa. The 21-year-old Ogbongbemiga says he protected himself during the protest. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
The Latest: Detroit Pistons set to reopen practice facility

By The Associated Press Jun. 03, 2020 12:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, John Swofford, commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, announces the cancellation of NCAA college basketball games at the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. The Power Five conferences spent $350,000 on lobbying in the first three months of 2020, more than they had previously spent in any full year, as part of a coordinated effort to influence Congress on legislation affecting the ability of college athletes to earn endorsement money. “In this particular case, the (Power Five) conferences are working together on this so that there’s less confusion, not more, in terms of the messaging to congressional leaders that helps explain NIL (Names, Images and Likenesses) and what the concerns are, and how it might work,” Swofford told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown, File)
AP Exclusive: Power Five spend big on lobbying Congress

By Ben Nuckols May. 19, 2020 11:52 AM EDT

FILE - In this is an April 25, 2018, file photo, NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis is viewed. College sports programs are already being cut and more are likely on the chopping block. The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an economic meltdown on campuses around the country. The cancellation of the NCAA men's basketball tournament cost schools $375 million and more losses are expected, especially if football season is disrupted in the fall. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Analysis: NCAA moves toward athlete compensation, but how?

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 30, 2020 06:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 25, 2018, file photo, the NCAA headquarters is shown in Indianapolis. The NCAA is moving closer to permitting Division I college athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorship deals they can strike on their own. Recommendations for changes to NCAA rules that would permit athletes to earn money for their names, images and likeness are being reviewed by college sports administrators this week before being sent to the association's Board of Governors. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Skeptics loom as NCAA builds guardrails around compensation

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 29, 2020 06:25 PM EDT

Blake Lawrence, co-founder and CEO of athlete marketing platform Opendorse, smiles in this Aug. 15, 2018, photo provided by Opendorse. Lawrence expects opportunities for high level NCAA college student-athletes to earn a significant sum of money from activating their social and digital media presence on behalf of sponsors in the local community. That scenario could become reality as soon as 2021 as the NCAA figures out the details of how college athletes can be compensated for the use of their name, image or likeness. (Opendorse via AP)
Tech companies, like college athletes, eager to cash in

By Eric Olson Apr. 27, 2020 10:37 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 25, 2018, file photo, the NCAA headquarters is shown in Indianapolis. The NCAA is moving closer to permitting Division I college athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorship deals they can strike on their own. Recommendations for changes to NCAA rules that would permit athletes to earn money for their names, images and likeness are being reviewed by college sports administrators this week before being sent to the association's Board of Governors. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
NCAA moves toward allowing athletes to be paid sponsors

Ralph D. Russo Apr. 23, 2020 03:52 PM EDT

A locked gate is seen by the Etihad Stadium where Manchester City was due to play Burnley in an English Premier League soccer match Saturday March 14, 2020, after all English soccer games were cancelled due to the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. For most people, the new COVID-19 coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, but for some it can cause more severe illness.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Latest: Patterson donates $50,000 to TCU's crisis fund

By The Associated Press Apr. 08, 2020 01:32 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 18, 2019, file photo, jockey Tyler Gaffalione, right, reacts aboard War of Will, as they crosses the finish line first to win the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore. A measure in Maryland to redevelop Pimlico Race Course to keep the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown in Baltimore is scheduled for a hearing before state lawmakers. The “Racing and Community Development Act of 2020” is set for a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
The Latest: NCAA suspends infraction hearings, arguments

By The Associated Press Apr. 03, 2020 06:52 PM EDT

A ticket holder pauses outside a closed Goodyear Ballpark, spring training home of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds baseball teams, reading a sign as to where he might get a refund for a canceled game, Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Goodyear, Ariz. Major League Baseball has suspended the rest of its spring training game schedule because if the coronavirus outbreak. MLB is also delaying the start of its regular season by at least two weeks. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Latest: Big South Conference cancels all spring sports

By The Associated Press Mar. 18, 2020 09:31 PM EDT

The desk of Kansas state Rep. Mark Samsel, R-Wellsville, honors University of Kansas sports teams with a sign depicting the Jayhawk mascot, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, on his House chamber desk of the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Kansas lawmakers are considering legislation to allow college athletes to hire agents and sign endorsement deals. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Kansas measure would allow college athletes to cash in

By John Hanna Mar. 10, 2020 12:22 PM EDT

AP Top 25 Podcast: Examining NCAA issues with former insider

By Ralph D Russo Feb. 14, 2020 09:57 AM EST
From NCAA investigator to college athlete advocate. On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, AP's Ralph Russo is joined by Tim...

In this undated image provided by Marian University, Indianapolis Athletics, Marian running back Charles Salary carries the ball during a college football game in Carmel, Ind. Player of the year Charles Salary from Marian and fellow running back Arnijae Ponder of Morningside lead The Associated Press NAIA All-America team. (Joe Gilbert/Marian University, Indianapolis Athletics via AP)
Marian, Morningside RBs highlight AP NAIA All-America team

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 20, 2019 12:37 PM EST

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney speaks with athletic directors from Utah colleges during a meeting at the University of Utah Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in Salt Lake City. Romney says he supports efforts to allow college athletes to profit from their name and image because he wants to help poor students who may never become professional athletes. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Romney backs paying college athletes to help poor players

By Brady Mccombs Nov. 15, 2019 07:40 PM EST

FILE - This 1953 file photo, shows Ohio State halfback Howard "Hopalong" Cassady in action pose in Columbus, Ohio. Cassady, a Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back, died early Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Tampa, Fla., Jerry Emig, the Ohio State associate athletic director said. He was 85. Cassady played both football and baseball at Ohio State in the early 1950s, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1955. He also played 10 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Detroit, and got the nickname "Hopalong" from local sports writers after the black-hatted Western star of the 1950s. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine, File)
'Hopalong' Cassady, Ohio State Heisman winner, dies at 85

By Andrew Welsh-Huggins Sep. 20, 2019 11:35 AM EDT

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany walks away from the podium at the Big Ten Conference NCAA college football media days Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Chicago. Delany will retire on Jan. 1, 2020, with Minnesota Vikings executive Kevin Warren succeeding him. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Big Ten's Delany says old mistakes to blame for college woes

By Keith Jenkins Jul. 18, 2019 11:59 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 4, 2019, file photo, NCAA President Mark Emmert answers questions at a news conference at the Final Four college basketball tournament in Minneapolis. College athletes are continuing to function at high levels in the classroom but their Academic Progress Rate scores appear to be hitting a peak. The most recent statistics, released Wednesday, May 8, 2019, show this year’s overall four-year score matched last year’s record-high of 983 and that the four-year scores in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball also matched last year’s marks. Baseball improved by one point to 976 while single-year scores at Historically Black Colleges declined slightly. “We are seeing some flattening of rates, which is not unusual given the large amount of data over a long period of time,” Emmert said in a statement. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
NCAA to consider allowing athletes to profit from names

By Ralph D. Russo May. 14, 2019 05:33 PM EDT

NCAA to appeal ruling in antitrust case about compensation

By The Associated Press Mar. 23, 2019 10:29 AM EDT
The NCAA and major college conferences will appeal a judge's ruling that the governing body violated antitrust laws by limiting education-related benefits to...

FILE - In this March 21, 2013, file photo taken with a fisheye lens, the NCAA logo is displayed at mid-court before Albany's practice for a second-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Philadelphia. A judge has ruled against the NCAA in a federal antitrust lawsuit, saying football and basketball players should be permitted to receive more compensation from schools but only if the benefits are tied to education. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
NCAA can claim victory after losing federal antitrust case

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 08, 2019 09:28 PM EST

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 file photo, Montreal Alouettes quarterback Johnny Manziel throws a pass during warmups before a CFL football game against the BC Lions in Montreal. Johnny Manziel is now “available” to the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football, the team’s general manager said Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. Before acting on Manziel, the Commanders and the new league are looking into why Manziel’s contract was terminated by the CFL earlier this week.(Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Alliance says Manziel "available" for San Antonio team

By The Associated Press Feb. 28, 2019 06:17 PM EST

FILE - In this June 15, 2018, file photo, Oakland Athletics draft pick Kyler Murray looks on before a baseball game between the Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels, in Oakland, Calif. Murray's locker remained empty on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in the spring training clubhouse of the Oakland Athletics, who say they are uncertain when or if the Heisman Trophy winner will report to the baseball team he signed with last summer. Billy Beane, Oakland’s executive vice president of baseball operation, said talks are continuing with Murray, who may drop baseball to pursue an NFL career. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Kyler Murray chooses NFL over baseball and A's

By Carrie Muskat Feb. 11, 2019 12:27 PM EST