We enter heady, complicated territory, but antitrust law is the greatest single threat to college athletics in the modern era.
Recently, various ex-collegians have made a variety of demands for compensation, through a variety of court challenges.
Their efforts have met with mixed success.
For instance, the plaintiffs in the Ed O'Bannon case sought damages for the uncompensated use of their likenesses used in a variety of profit-making ventures, most notable video games. The NCAA, EA Sports and others. While couched in terms of likeness rights, the case was absolutely one involving antitrust laws. And, just over a year ago, the trial court made a specific finding that the NCAA et al were a "cartel" which unfairly restrained interstate commerce, specifically as concerned television revenues and licensing rights.