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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee men’s basketball players and the athletes group Athletes.org released a collective bargaining term sheet Tuesday that lays out what an agreement in college sports could include. Athletes.org said the document is “not a signed agreement or ratified CBA.”
The players set the terms through multiple rounds of discussion, feedback, and voting after months of meetings that included the university’s athletics administration, according to the group. Its term sheet page includes a disclaimer on the school’s position.
“The Administration has not agreed to or endorsed these terms,” the page said.
The summary lists a salary cap paired with a spending floor, eligibility and transfer rules, a protected “dead” period with no mandatory athletic activities, and an independent grievance process. It also covers injured reserve pay protection, post-eligibility medical insurance, mental health resources, agent certification, and a fine schedule.
Tennessee Players Served As Elected Representatives
The basketball players organized through a players association and elected representatives, Athletes.org said. Tennessee agreed to have graduate student Tyler Lundblade, junior Campbell Duncan, and sophomore DeWayne Brown II serve in those roles, CBS Sports reported.
Tennessee athletic director Danny White has publicly backed collective bargaining for college athletes since at least May 2025. He also issued a statement on the term sheet.
“Collective bargaining is a proven model that works across all of professional sports,” White said.
Athletes.org Says Football Work Is On Hold
Athletes.org said it also met with the Tennessee football team, which went through the same process and privately voted to have the group represent it. That work is on hold until the football season ends, the group said.
Athletes.org published a draft collective bargaining framework for college sports in December 2025. College sports has never had a union for athletes.
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