Tennessee men’s basketball players and Athletes.org have released a draft collective-bargaining term sheet outlining how college athletes might negotiate pay, transfers and working conditions. The proposal is a framework for discussion, not a signed agreement, and the University of Tennessee’s administration has not agreed to or endorsed its terms.

What the Tennessee players proposed

The term sheet was developed after months of discussions involving Tennessee players, Athletes.org and the university’s athletics administration. The athlete group says players determined the terms through discussion, feedback and voting. The draft covers compensation, transfer and eligibility rules, health and wellness, time commitments, grievance procedures and academic support.

Among its headline ideas are a salary cap paired with a spending floor, rules for player movement and an independent process for raising grievances. Those are proposals in the draft; they do not currently change how Tennessee or other schools compensate athletes.

The draft is not a binding college sports agreement

Athletes.org says Tennessee’s administration took part in discussions but has not agreed to or endorsed the final terms. The organization also says the document is not a signed agreement or ratified collective-bargaining agreement. Tennessee athletic director Danny White has voiced support for exploring collective bargaining as a possible model, a distinction from backing this specific draft.

The proposal is notable because it offers a team-level example of what organized negotiations could address, while leaving the legal and practical questions unresolved. Collective bargaining in college sports would raise questions about athlete employment status, representation, and how rules would apply across public and private schools.

How it fits into the wider college sports debate

The term sheet arrives as lawmakers consider a federal framework for college athletics. The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act, but its future in the House remains uncertain. The proposed Tennessee framework and the bill represent different approaches to setting rules on athlete compensation and movement. Read more about the House’s next steps on the Protect College Sports Act.

Athletes.org says its football discussions with Tennessee have been paused until after the season. Whether the basketball players’ proposal influences other teams will depend on future negotiations and on how schools, athletes and lawmakers address the underlying legal questions.

Sources

The Associated Press: Tennessee players co-design a model of what collective bargaining could look like in college sports
CBS Sports: Tennessee players launch first bargaining plan as college sports bill faces deadline
Athletes.org: Tennessee men’s basketball players’ collective-bargaining term sheet