No. 20-512October Term 2020Decided Jun 23, 2021Updated May 23, 2026
National Collegiate Athletic Assn. v. Alston
This case asked whether the NCAA can limit the education-related benefits that colleges give student-athletes without violating federal antitrust law.
Case status
Decided 9-0 · June 23, 2021 · Opinion by Justice Gorsuch
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 23, 2021
- What it's about
This case asked whether the NCAA can limit the education-related benefits that colleges give student-athletes without violating federal antitrust law. The Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling that those limits unlawfully restrained competition under §1 of the Sherman Act.
Question presented
Whether the Ninth Circuit erroneously held, in conflict with decisions of other circuits and general antitrust principles, that the National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility rules regarding compensation of student-athletes violate federal antitrust law.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Jun 23, 2021
- Area
Business and Regulation
Timing
Decided June 23, 2021
The Court released its decision on June 23, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 23, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: opinion
Jun 21, 2021 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Oct 15, 2020 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology