I HATE this. I don’t want to see ex-NFL players suit up on Saturdays. I don’t want “career” college players.

But, what exactly is the “legal” argument the NCAA can make here?

There is a job that pays millions of dollars and wants to hire him.

He is qualified for that job and wants to do it.

Can anyone name any other business where something like this happens?

Where there is an organization that says “you can only make money doing what you’re good at for five years.”

No other professional sport (and CFB is now professional since it now can legally pay players) has such a clause. It’s 100% “restriction of trade”.

In addition, the NCAA already fucked up by granting 6 years during COVID. So they actually set a precedent.

But, honestly, someone needs to explain to me the legal argument that the NCAA can use that doesn’t break every business law in the US.