UAB football players, led by head coach Trent Dilfer, have become the first full Division I football team to join Athletes.org, signaling a growing momentum for players to organize and potentially negotiate for a larger share of revenue in college sports.

By the Numbers
  • UAB's entire football roster has signed up for Athletes.org.
  • AO's current membership consists of 2,495 college athletes, with a target of half of the "Power 10k" signed up by the end of 2024.
Yes, But

The NCAA has been resistant to considering athletes as employees, posing a challenge to potential negotiations for revenue sharing.

State of Play
  • The college sports industry is undergoing significant changes due to legal challenges pushing towards a more professional model.
What's Next

Future developments may hinge on pending lawsuits like House v. NCAA and ongoing efforts to unionize athletes through the NLRB, potentially leading to new collective bargaining models within the next 12-15 months.

Bottom Line

UAB's move to join Athletes.org highlights a shift towards player empowerment in college sports, setting the stage for potential negotiations and new models for revenue sharing in the future.