Are Villanova football players like former football player Trey Johnson employees?

That’s the question that attorneys argued for former Villanova football player Trey Johnson and other athletes, and the NCAA, in a recent hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, writes Michael McCann for Sportico.

 The arguments concerned the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The three-judge panel is considering the core principle of the NCAA that college athletes shouldn’t be paid. A decision on that principle is expected later this year.

If they rule that college athletes are employees they would be eligible to receive wages similar to their work-study classmates.

The athletes can now be paid through sponsorships and promotions, but that compensation comes from third parties, not the schools.

The panel of judges pointed out that student-athletes are a revenue generator for the schools capable of generating billion-dollar TV contracts because people want to watch them play.

Depending on the ruling, student-athletes could gain the right to minimum wage and overtime pay. They would not be able to unionize or receive health and retirement benefits, or sign contracts that pay star athletes much more than benchwarmers.

Find out more details about employee status for Trey Johnson and other student-athletes at  Sportico.

Brian Murphy, a sports investigative reporter, talks about the court hearing.