NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among approximately 1,100 colleges and universities in the United States. Founded in 1906 as the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States to promote safety and formalize competition, it adopted its current name in 1910 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The NCAA is organized into three divisions (I, II, and III), each with its own membership and governance structures. It writes the rules for competition, determines amateur status and eligibility for student-athletes, administers national championships, and oversees compliance and student welfare programs. Membership includes colleges, universities, and athletic conferences that sponsor intercollegiate athletics across dozens of sports.

The organization runs national championships in many sports, from basketball and football to track and field, swimming, and beyond. Division I features high-profile events such as the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, commonly known as March Madness. In football, the national champion for the Football Bowl Subdivision is determined by the College Football Playoff, an arrangement separate from the NCAA’s championship structure, while the Football Championship Subdivision has its own NCAA-run playoffs.

In recent years, changes related to student-athlete compensation have become prominent. The NCAA has adapted policies around name, image, and likeness (NIL), allowing athletes to profit from endorsements while maintaining amateur status under applicable rules. Ongoing governance work also addresses transfers, academic progress, and equitable distribution of revenue to member schools.