Christine Brown & Partners

Our mission is to champion the rights of college athletes, coaches, and teams by providing expert legal counsel that meets today’s ever-changing environment.

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Argued recently the NCAA should let student-athletes file eligibility waivers themselves. Brock Murtha’s case shows why. He followed protocol, but a process breakdown led to denial by NCAA. Thanks @DanielLibit @Sportico for highlighting Brock’s situation. https://t.co/XkKtNzSYzB

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Argued recently the NCAA should let student-athletes file eligibility waivers themselves. Brock Murtha’s case shows why. He followed protocol, but a process breakdown led to denial by NCAA. Thanks @DanielLibit @Sportico for highlighting Brock’s situation. https://t.co/XkKtNzSYzB

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Another reason why student-athletes need to be able to file eligibility waivers directly to the NCAA.

[Daniel Libit @DanielLibit]

EXCLUSIVE: @NavyBaseball player Brock Murtha is seeking a federal court’s injunction to allow him to play this current season, after NCAA denied his eligibility waiver. He is framing his lawsuit in terms of national security.

Story for @Sportico 👇

https://t.co/HNKgUlquNl

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

New year, clean slate. My 2026 college sports predictions: NIL, Title IX lawsuits, athlete employment, eligibility battles - and why mental health must be non-negotiable.

https://t.co/yqB2pWGob0

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

My legal review of 2025 college sports👇

https://t.co/4ErilY28Yn

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Collective bargaining meets private equity in athletic departments: who wins, who loses? ⚖️🏈 This week’s Motion to Disrupt explores the risks. https://t.co/ailyqc0xyd

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

And it should really concern all athletes nationwide playing non-revenue sports. Because once the PE dam breaks …

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

This certainly changes the dynamic from supporters with a rooting interested to supporters demanding returns. That should raise concerns among every athlete on a non-revenue team at Utah.

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

This certainly changes the dynamic from supporters with a rooting interested to supporters demanding returns. That should raise concerns among every athlete on a non-revenue team at Utah.

[Amanda Christovich @achristovichh]

The University of Utah is taking on a private equity investment into an LLC that it has created for athletics revenue generating operations, reports star deals reporter @BenHorney for @FOS. https://t.co/8bLxr2oJ9B

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

A story all too common, unfortunately. And why student-athletes cannot depend on their institutions to lookout for their best interests.

[Daniel Libit @DanielLibit]

EXCLUSIVE: In an October court hearing, @UDelaware lawyers admitted for first time that former @Delaware_FB player Joseph Bruno’s 2022 dismissal stemmed from his seeking an unapproved second medical opinion.

Inside his ongoing battle for answers👇

https://t.co/jkq6TJbynf

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

After a week of stunning failures for the old NCAA apparatus, my newsletter this week focuses on how the CARA Act, championed by @RepLoriTrahan represents a serious blueprint for rebuilding college sports. ➡️ https://t.co/JkCNv7sq46

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Great summary on this. The #LaneKiffin impact seems like the latest chapter in a season defined by coaches / money. I wrote about buyouts and salaries a few weeks ago - still 1 of college sports’ biggest challenges. https://t.co/mCRyrVBUD8

[Amanda Christovich @achristovichh]

NEW: Last week, Republicans were confident SCORE Act would pass the House. Now, the vote has been scrapped.

What changed?

Sources who spoke w @FOS point to Lane Kiffin, the Congressional Black Caucus, Democrat mobilization, and internal GOP dynamics. https://t.co/zUsH7UUl3I

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Such an important initiative as women’s sports continue to skyrocket⚽️❤️

[U.S. Soccer @ussoccer]

Introducing, the Kang Women's Institute.

A first-of-its-kind platform designed to accelerate advancements in the women's game through science, innovation, and elevated best practices.

📰 https://t.co/7DXCqXT4i5

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Well said

[Darren Heitner @heitner]

The #NIL bill by @RepLoriTrahan gets it right. Athletes would control their NIL without restrictions, keep their deals private, states can provide more rights, and there's a path to collective bargaining. No NCAA antitrust immunity. No surveillance state. This is the standard. Not the SCORE Act.

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

The trickle down impacts everyone, even if administrations claim otherwise. I wrote several weeks ago about what this can lead to https://t.co/mCRyrVBUD8

[NIL 𝘯𝘰𝘵 NLI @NILnotNLI]

Meanwhile, the academic side at LSU is facing large budget cuts (via @ByPiperHutch of @IlluminatorLA)

"The pay increases were awarded as every other department on campus began returning 2% of the budgets they were allocated July 1 back to the university"
https://t.co/QgVFfmHgFS

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

We couldn’t agree more. Yes, action is needed, and the soap opera over the last week reinforced that. But the SCORE Act isn’t it. It’s designed in a way to protect the various institutions, not student athletes.

[Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon @RepMGS]

The NCAA, powerful athletic conferences, colleges and universities, broadcasters, and advertisers have all made massive profits by exploiting uncompensated college athletes.

This money grab is at the expense of consumers and student-athletes.

Student athletes deserve to be treated fairly, and the SCORE Act doesn't do that.

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Colorado expands football payments … then hints at tapping student fees and institutional money to plug the holes? If they’re wobbling, who is next? Concern is that this is less of a one-off than an opening act.

[USA TODAY Sports @usatodaysports]

Colorado forecasts $27 million deficit after Deion Sanders pay raise, NIL payments https://t.co/Fv8jmeQflq

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

Tennessee’s approach to NIL has been ahead of the curve, and this is a good piece that breaks down how those negotiations really work. A clear look at how offers, expectations, and payments come together for 2026 recruits. Worth the read for anyone tracking NIL’s evolution.

[Adam Sparks @AdamSparks]

EXCLUSIVE:

Inside Tennessee's NIL negotiations with 2026 football recruits – from initial offer to direct-deposit payment.

Contracts, agents, player payroll, salary cap, shenanigans by opponents and much more as signing day approaches.
https://t.co/a1ABoewe2U

[Christine Brown & Partners @cbpartnerslaw]

CARA actually puts athletes at the center, something every other proposal claims but fails to do. If Congress wants a system that works, this is the starting point.

[Amanda Christovich @achristovichh]

Inbox: Rep Lori Trahan introduces the College Athletics Reform Act.“Introduction of CARA comes as the House is set to vote this week on the flawed SCORE Act, which will roll back the rights of college athletes and hand massive giveaways to the NCAA and powerful conferences.”

[NIL 𝘯𝘰𝘵 NLI @NILnotNLI]

3 years ago today, a group of College Baseball coaches filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA concerning volunteer coaches & wage fixing.

2 months ago, the NCAA settled with them for $49 million.

2 weeks ago, the NCAA settled with other volunteer coaches for $303 million.

[NIL 𝘯𝘰𝘵 NLI @NILnotNLI]

Last year, Clemson University approved a student athletic fee that would reportedly raise $7 million for its Athletics Department.

A month later, Clemson AD Graham Neff said he would be adding 150 scholarships, at a cost of $6 million.

We are being told these are unrelated.