NCAA Division III Athletes File Suit Against Scholarship Ban
Three athletes are challenging the league's ban on athletic scholarships in a new federal class action lawsuit.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Three former and current NCAA Division III student-athletes have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. They are seeking class action status to overturn the NCAA bylaw that prohibits athletic scholarships.
Why it matters
The lawsuit alleges that the Division III scholarship ban constitutes illegal price-fixing by setting the price of athletic labor at zero. It aims to determine if these long-standing restrictions violate federal employment and antitrust laws.
The lawsuit references the University of Lynchburg, which reportedly awarded $155,000 in improper financial aid during the 2022-23 academic year. There are over 200,000 student-athletes in NCAA Division III annually who are currently impacted by the ban.
The players
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body for college sports in the United States.
Chris Jennings
He is a former student-athlete who competed at the University of Lynchburg.
Connor Printz
He is a former student-athlete who competed at Claremont McKenna College.
Jackson Hale
He is a senior student-athlete currently attending Pacific Lutheran University.
The details
Plaintiffs Chris Jennings, Connor Printz, and Jackson Hale claim the league creates an illegal conspiracy to fix the value of athletic performance. The suit seeks an injunction to bar enforcement of the ban and is pursuing triple damages under the Clayton Act.
Timeline
Chris Jennings competed at the University of Lynchburg from 2019 to 2023.
Connor Printz competed at Claremont McKenna College from 2020 to 2024.
The University of Lynchburg awarded improper financial aid during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Culture Shift
The legal action represents a growing challenge to the traditional amateurism model in college sports, mirroring broader societal debates over labor rights and compensation for students. This case highlights a potential pivot away from the long-standing restrictions that have defined the Division III experience.
If the lawsuit succeeds, it could fundamentally change the recruitment and financial aid landscape for hundreds of thousands of student-athletes across the country. Families may see significant shifts in how universities distribute athletic-based funding compared to traditional need-based aid.
The takeaway
This case could force a major restructuring of how Division III institutions manage athletic recruitment and financial packages. Observers should watch for future court rulings that might clarify the legal boundary between student-athlete status and professional labor.
Further reading
For more on educational funding and policies, visit the Financial Aid section.
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