NCAA’s Richest Get Autonomy, Paving Way for More Aid to Athletes
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The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s biggest athletic programs were granted partial autonomy, a move that eventually might give athletes at the richest schools a piece of the billion-dollar industry.
The restructuring is part of an overhaul of the NCAA’s governance, approved yesterday in a 16-2 vote by its directors. The members of the five wealthiest conferences -- which accounted for 24 of the 25 top-ranked football teams last season -- can now begin to consider offering athletes benefits such as extra money beyond what current scholarships allow or increased medical coverage.