Student Athlete Compensation: An Alternative Compensation Model for All Athletes Competing in NCAA Athletics

The Ed O’Bannon (O’Bannon v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2015) case has brought student athlete compensation to the national spotlight. While the NCAA continues to defend its policy of amateurism, the time for college athlete compensation may soon become a reality. College athlete compensation models have previously included a revenue sharing model similar to that of professional sports leagues. While this model was worthwhile, it only took into account basketball and football. The current paper will argue for a market-economy based compensation model. This model takes into account the revenues generated by each university team, while also accounting for a player and team’s performance. Justifications for this model will be explored, as this model will allows for various options for athlete compensation. This paper will conclude with an example of the model’s utility through using publically accessible data for a major Division-1 college program.