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Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Pay Revolution in College Sports

3/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Tennessee Volunteers faced the Iowa State Cyclones in Chicago on March 27.
The Supreme Court's unanimous National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston (2021) disrupted college athletics by allowing pay-to-play deals.
This ruling ended the notion of amateurism for men's Division I basketball and football players.
Some former players are returning to college for better pay.
The University of Illinois is recruiting European players with attractive pay deals.

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Story summary

The Tennessee Volunteers faced the Iowa State Cyclones in Chicago on March 27.
The Supreme Court's unanimous National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston (2021) disrupted college athletics by allowing pay-to-play deals.
This ruling ended the notion of amateurism for men's Division I basketball and football players.
Some former players are returning to college for better pay.
The University of Illinois is recruiting European players with attractive pay deals.