The Rise of American Esports-and the Fall of the NCAA
Takaze A. Turner
Abstract
This paper critically examines the financial, structural, and ethical challenges facing collegiate athletics, with a particular focus on esports and Division I programs. It highlights the escalating costs and reliance on institutional subsidies that threaten the sustainability of university sports departments, as well as the shifting landscape caused by NCAA deregulation, NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) policies, and Title IX litigation. The analysis contends that top-tier collegiate athletes are, in effect, professionals and questions the NCAA's use of the “student-athlete” label to justify inequitable treatment. The discussion explores the consequences of pay-for-play models, the inadequacy of scholarships as compensation, and the ongoing struggle for fair wages and rights among athletes. Ultimately, the paper argues for a more just and transparent collegiate sports regime, calling attention to the need for reforms that address both gender equity and the professional status of student-athletes.
