The NCAA on Monday asked the Supreme Court to take up a case that would provide guidance as to what kind of education-related benefits student-athletes can receive.
Specifically, the association has asked the highest court in the land to weigh in on a case in which a district judge and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the NCAA cannot have association-wide limits on education-related benefits for college student-athletes.
The NCAA’s 11 conferences were listed as co-defendants in the case, and they’ve now asked the 9th Circuit to stay an injunction that was issued in March 2019. The injunction is set to formally take effect Wednesday.
In its filing, the NCAA argues that the 9th Circuit’s decision conflicts with those of the Supreme Court and other federal courts on “an important question of law.”
The initial case was brought on behalf of plaintiffs led by former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston, according to USA Today. The 9th Circuit had ruled that athletes may receive scholarships to complete undergraduate or graduate degrees at any school. The judge also appeared to open the possibility of athletes being able to receive cash or cash-equivalent awards based on academics or graduation.
The appellate panel that saw the case declined to broaden the ruling and left in place limits on non-education-related compensation.
Should the ruling stand, the NCAA said that its “member schools and conferences will no longer have the flexibility to adopt what in their judgment are appropriate and nationally uniform eligibility rules to preserve the traditional amateur character of college sports.
“Instead, they … face an unending string of litigation that will not only transfer substantial control over intercollegiate athletics away from those with experience and expertise in the field, but also reduce the funds available to provide opportunities and services to student-athletes.”
