The nonprofit status of NCAA athletic departments is starting to raise questions

In an era of billion-dollar TV deals and million-dollar payments to players, the tax code continues to treat university athletic departments as organizations that promote education and amateur sports.

By: Andrew Urbaczewski, University of Denver, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 2, 2026

Words: 1,388

Last Updated: 3 months, 4 weeks ago

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By Andrew Urbaczewski, University of Denver

With all the talk of busted brackets, game-winning shots, point spreads and Cinderellas, it was easy to miss the eye-popping offer University of Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg claimed to have received during the first weekend of March Madness.

Lendeborg told The Associated Press that the University of Kentucky had dangled between US$7 million and $9 million to entice him to transfer there in 2025.

Though University …

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