BYU football: Players classified as university employees by NLRB?

BYU football players are now employees of the university? According to the NLRB, that’s exactly right.

BYU football players are now technically considered employees of the university, according to the National Labor Relations Board.

ESPN’s Lester Munson reported that the top lawyer at the NLRB issued an official opinion that players competing at private universities are employees of their respective schools.

There are 17 private universities playing in the FBS. They are: Baylor, Boston College, BYU, Duke, Miami, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Rice, Southern California, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, TCU, Tulane, Tulsa, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.

In 2014 NLRB Regional Director Peter Ohr ruled that Northwestern football players are employees. The newest ruling only deals with football teams because the original ruling was football specific.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune’s Jay Drew, the ruling means BYU football players have new rights and more leverage if they chose to unionize.

In terms of changes, it seems like the most likely changes would center around practices. But, there’s a possibility that this gets the ball rolling on paying players, by giving them part of the school’s athletic profits.

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At the end of the day, I don’t imagine this means anything for BYU football. Kalani Sitake is truly a players’ coach and players genuinely love playing for him. He’s creating a new culture at BYU, one that seems focused on fun and family and swag.

Not to mention that this issue never arose under Bronco Mendenhall, either. Or LaVell Edwards. BYU football has been led by some high-character individuals throughout its history. Still, this ruling has the potential to change college football.

The paying players debate has only escalated in recent years. If private school players can unionize, a whole new level of this debate is coming.

Buckle up.