The Allen Sack National Symposium Advancing Integrity in College Sport
Schedule
Thu Apr 23 2026 at 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
2397 6th St NW Howard Univ. Blackburn Center | Washington, DC
About this Event
A one-day symposium featuring national experts and award-winning journalists. Free breakfast at 8:15am and lunch. The purpose of the 2026 Allen Sack National Symposium is to examine the new landscape of college athletics in the wake of House v. NCAA, exploring the evolving relationship between education, athlete compensation, and the commercialization of college sports within the framework of the NCAA. The Symposium will provide a comprehensive examination of the post-settlement era, including the implementation of direct revenue sharing, debates over athlete employment status and unionization, governance challenges in an increasingly deregulated environment, and the emergence of potential “super-league” models. The Symposium will also feature a “fireside chat” with Cody Campbell on the future of college athletics. A central feature of the program will highlight the voices of current and recent college athletes, offering a frontline perspective on how the settlement is reshaping daily life in locker rooms, team dynamics, and competitive opportunities, and whether the promise of reform has produced new and unforeseen challenges across collegiate athletics.
Agenda
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:45 AM
Continental Breakfast
🕑: 08:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Panel Session 1 - The Athletes’ Verdict Post-House Settlement
Info: As the dust settles on House v. NCAA, a new era of collegiate athletics has emerged—one defined by direct revenue sharing, employment status debates, and a fractured Title IX landscape. While the courtrooms are busy with filings and appeals, the locker rooms are dealing with the fallout.
This session brings together a panel of current and recent college athletes to pull back the curtain on life in the "pay-for-play" era. We move beyond the legal jargon and theoretical debate to the lived reality of the modern college athlete. Join us to hear from the athletes who are currently navigating this uncharted territory and learn why the "solution" provided by the settlement may have created a brand-new set of systemic crises.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Panel Session 2 - The Cost of Undervaluation: Women's College Sports
Info: Join top leaders in sports broadcasting as they dissect the seismic shifts shaping college athletics. From the landmark Kaplan Report, to NIL legislation, to the House v. NCAA settlement allowing direct athlete pay, we're in a new world. This webinar will explore the new media landscape as well as how the findings of the landmark Kaplan Report—which revealed the NCAA's systematic undervaluing of women's sports—stand in stark contrast to the new revenue-sharing formulas of the House v. NCAA settlement. Do these new deals, which allow for direct athlete payments, truly reflect the surging value of women's sports and avoid perpetuating the historical inequities highlighted by the Kaplan Report? While revenue-sharing models are currently being implemented at institutions, proceeding without proper valuation creates a significant
legal and ethical risk of solidifying a financial structure built on the undervaluing of women's sports. Our panelists will share their insights on how this evolv
🕑: 11:45 PM - 12:45 PM
National Awards Luncheon
Info: The luncheon features presentation of The Drake Group Education Fund (TDGEF) national awards. The awards program includes recipients of the TDGEF National Public Service Award, the TDGEF Student Journalism Prize for Investigative Reporting in Intercollegiate Athletics, the TDGEF Hero Award, and TDGEF “Making A Difference” Award, among others.
🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
FIRESIDE CHAT: 12:45-1:30pm - The Future of College Sports
Info: Join the Executive Director of the Drake Group Education Fund for a focused conversation with Cody Campbell on the future of college athletics following the House v. NCAA settlement. As a result of the settlement, schools have moved to direct athlete compensation and revenue sharing, and this discussion will examine how this new financial model reshapes athletic department priorities, competitive balance, and the sustainability of non-revenue sports. The conversation will also address emerging Title IX and gender equity considerations, evolving NIL dynamics, and the broader implications of these structural changes for governance, academic integrity, and the educational mission of higher education.
🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
PANEL 4: Redefining Governance in the Era of College Super Leagues
Info: In an era defined by rapid deregulation and shifting capital, the future of the NCAA is no longer a localized concern—it is a national priority. This session brings together key stakeholders and strategic thinkers to debate the challenges of managing institutional complexity and weakened governance in a new economic and federal landscape. We will explore whether new regulatory frameworks can stabilize a system currently navigating unprecedented volatility.
🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
NETWORKING HOUR
Where is it happening?
2397 6th St NW Howard Univ. Blackburn Center, 2397 6th Street Northwest, Washington, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00



















