Overview
- Calipari’s Washington Post op-ed asks the major conferences to form an alliance outside current NCAA structures and negotiate with athletes as a special non‑employee class.
- He outlines three changes: a one‑time transfer limit with a coach‑departure exception, a four‑year eligibility clock starting after high school, and greater freedom for school‑affiliated collectives to pay current or returning players without outside review.
- As an alternative to a conference alliance, he suggests sport‑specific governing entities that could tailor rules and negotiate media deals.
- He argues that congressional antitrust relief is unlikely, positioning conference‑led action and a non‑employee bargaining model as the most practical near‑term path.
- Separate from his plan, reporting indicates the NCAA has shortened the basketball transfer portal to a 15‑day window after the national championship with a coaching‑transition exception.