University of Tennessee Pilots Collective Bargaining Model for Athletes

The University of Tennessee and its athletic director, Danny White, have partnered with Athletes.org (AO) to conduct a mock collective bargaining exercise with the men's basketball team. According to CBS Sports, the initiative aims to demonstrate how student-athletes and third-party representatives can negotiate with universities to secure equal rights and a seat at the table within the college sports industry.

Representing the players in the process were sophomore DeWayne Brown II, junior Campbell Duncan, and grad student Tyler Lundblade. While the resulting term sheet is non-binding and currently illegal from a union standpoint, AO asserts the model can be adapted across college sports. The proposed framework is built around five key pillars: Money & Compensation, Player Movement, Health, Wellness & Time Commitment, Rules & Enforcement, and Academic & Support. Specifically, the model proposes direct pay-for-play, utilizing a neutral arbitrator and holding schools financially accountable for failing to meet terms.

White, who has served as athletic director since 2021, stated that collective bargaining is a proven model in professional sports that could create a durable solution for college athletics. The experiment comes as the NCAA seeks antitrust protection through federal legislation. CBS Sports reports that the Protect College Sports Act passed the Senate 77-22 in October but is unlikely to reach the House floor during the current lame-duck session.

While specific player compensation was not disclosed, CBS Sports previously reported in October that Tennessee is among 11 schools spending over $20 million on its men's basketball roster this season. AO noted that a similar experiment is currently underway with the Tennessee football program.