Division III Athletes Sue NCAA Over Scholarship Ban

The legal fight over paying college athletes just reached the NCAA’s largest division. Three current and former Division III athletes sued the NCAA on October 23, 2026. They argue the ban on athletic scholarships at more than 400 schools is illegal price fixing under federal antitrust law.

The case, Printz v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (2:26-cv-12448), seeks damages for athletes who competed in Division III since October 21, 2022. It also asks the court to stop the NCAA from enforcing the ban.

About 210,000 athletes compete in Division III each year, according to the NCAA (PDF File). None of them can receive an athletic scholarship today.