SAVING CAMELOT? NIL and the Future of Amateurism

This Article explores the future of intercollegiate athletics with a diminished (and perhaps even disappearing) amateurism model. Specifically, the Article argues that athletic conferences are in the best position to “save Camelot”—to preserve the aspects of college sports that make them beloved and distinctive—while at the same time realistically accounting for an evolving economic and legal landscape. In Part I, the Article describes the economics of the NCAA’s current amateurism model. Part II explores the recent changes to the NCAA’s amateurism model in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Alston v. NCAA and the widespread adoption of state name, image, and likeness (NIL) laws.

In Part III, the Article surveys the uncertain future of amateurism in light of changing market and legal challenges. Finally, Part IV casts a vision of what it might mean to “save Camelot” in light of the disparate interests of universities and college athletes.