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The purpose of the 2026 Allen Sack National Symposium is to examine the new landscape of college athletics in the wake of House v. NCAA, exploring the evolving relationship between education, athlete compensation, and the commercialization of college sports within the framework of the NCAA. The Symposium will provide a comprehensive examination of the post-settlement era, including the implementation of direct revenue sharing, debates over athlete employment status and unionization, governance challenges in an increasingly deregulated environment, and the emergence of potential “super-league” models. The Symposium will also feature a “fireside chat” with Cody Campbell on the future of college athletics. A central feature of the program will highlight the voices of current and recent college athletes, offering a frontline perspective on how the settlement is reshaping daily life in locker rooms, team dynamics, and competitive opportunities, and whether the promise of reform has produced new and unforeseen challenges across collegiate athletics. |
Leigh Ernst Friestedt
Moderator |
As the dust settles on House v. NCAA, a new era of collegiate athletics has emerged—one defined by direct revenue sharing, employment status debates, and a fractured Title IX landscape. While the courtrooms are busy with filings and appeals, the locker rooms are dealing with the fallout. This session brings together a panel of current and recent college athletes to pull back the curtain on life in the "pay-for-play" era. We move beyond the legal jargon and theoretical debate to the lived reality of the modern college athlete. Join us to hear from the athletes who are currently navigating this uncharted territory and learn why the "solution" provided by the settlement may have created a brand-new set of systemic crises. |
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Join top leaders in sports broadcasting as they dissect the seismic shifts shaping college athletics. From the landmark Kaplan Report, to NIL legislation, to the House v. NCAA settlement allowing direct athlete pay, we’re in a new world. This webinar will explore the new media landscape as well as how the findings of the landmark Kaplan Report—which revealed the NCAA’s systematic undervaluing of women’s sports—stand in stark contrast to the new revenue-sharing formulas of the House v. NCAA settlement. Do these new deals, which allow for direct athlete payments, truly reflect the surging value of women’s sports and avoid perpetuating the historical inequities highlighted by the Kaplan Report? While revenue-sharing models are currently being implemented at institutions, proceeding without proper valuation creates a significant legal and ethical risk of solidifying a financial structure built on the undervaluing of women’s sports. Our panelists will share their insights on how this evolving landscape is creating unprecedented opportunities and challenges for media companies, institutions, and athletes alike. Join us to learn how this focus on equity and value will drive the next generation of growth in college athletics. |
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Kelsey Nicole Nelson Moderator |
As the 2026 collegiate landscape shifts from the “amateur” era toward a formal revenue-sharing model, the conversation around collective bargaining has moved from theoretical debate to a complex legal and structural confrontation. However, the path to a unionized collegiate system is fraught with structural, legal, and ethical hurdles that challenge the very sustainability of athletic departments. This panel explores the friction between athlete advocacy and the operational realities of higher education. Rather than assuming collective bargaining is an inevitable “endgame,” this session critically examines the significant complications inherent in such a transition. |
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In an era defined by rapid deregulation and shifting capital, the future of the NCAA is no longer a localized concern—it is a national priority. This session brings together key stakeholders and strategic thinkers to debate the challenges of managing institutional complexity and weakened governance in a new economic and federal landscape. We will explore whether new regulatory frameworks can stabilize a system currently navigating unprecedented volatility. |
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The Drake Group Education Fund Video Library CLICK HERE to see the table of contents of The Drake Group Education Fund Video Library for recordings of all 53 previous webinars including the full proceedings of the 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Allen Sack National Symposia. |
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The Drake Group Education Fund Inc. (TDGEF), is a national nonprofit organization operating through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions TDGEF are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The Drake Group Education Fund's mission is to ensure that the promise of college athletics is realized for all stakeholders. TDGEF produces The Allen Sack National Symposium on Integrity in College Sports and the Critical Issues in College Sports Webinar Series, conducts fact-based research on intercollegiate athletics and develops position papers and other educational materials that influence public discourse on current issues and controversies in college sport. Copyright: CC BY-NC-ND |
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