The Europeanization of College Sports: A Solution to the New NCAA Landscape

Abstract

The traditional comparison between American and European professional sports has usually emphasized their differences, especially between the closed, collectively bargained major leagues and the merit-based, solidarity-driven European model. This contrast has hindered meaningful comparative analysis. However, the recent professionalization of NCAA competitions offers a new lens: they share structural and regulatory similarities with European sports, such as a pyramidal system and rules set by sport governing bodies without collective bargaining exemptions from antitrust law. In 2024, both systems faced nearly identical legal disputes over transfer regulations, underscoring shared challenges. These parallels open the door for comparative legal approaches. This article aims to propose solutions to NCAA issues inspired by representative features of the European sports model.