Athletes Pursue Class Action Suit Against NCAA

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Lawyers for former student athletes are seeking to turn their lawsuit against the NCAA over compensation into a class action representing thousands of collegiate competitors.

A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments in Oakland Thursday afternoon. If the lawsuit is turned into class action and the athletes prevail, the NCAA could face billions of dollars in liability.

The lawsuit was initially filed by University of California, Los Angeles basketball player Ed O'Bannon and several other former college athletes in 2009who feel the NCAA is unfairly profiting from their likenesses and images in marketing deals with video games and others.

The NCAA argues many of the athletes receive scholarships in exchange for playing sports and to pay student athletes would ruin amateur athletics.

The judge isn't expected to rule Thursday.