Jeffrey Kessler Leads NCAA Antitrust Lawsuit to Redefine Athlete Compensation and the Future of College Athletics

As an NCAA antitrust lawsuit seeking retroactive monetary damages for former athletes’ NIL pay gains momentum, Attorney Jeffrey Kessler is leading the charge. He believes that power conference schools should be treated differently in the case, which has many concerned about its potential impact on the NCAA landscape.

Kessler’s views on the matter align with those within college athletics who attribute the current predicament to skyrocketing salaries for coaches and administrators. While advocating for athlete compensation, he also supports leaving the NCAA basketball tournament unchanged. In fact, he has publicly praised NCAA President Charlie Baker’s Project DI proposal, acknowledging Baker’s understanding of the issue.

With athletic administrators preparing to potentially share revenue with athletes as part of a settlement agreement, this revenue sharing model could provide significant financial benefits without resorting to athlete employment. The proposed annual per-school revenue sharing figure of $15-20 million could have a lasting impact on how athletes are compensated and potentially bring structure and solutions to the industry. If successful, this case could set a new standard for athlete compensation in the years to come.