The NLRB will likely rule in the next month on whether Northwestern University’s scholarship football players are employees of the school and therefore have the right to become the first unionized collegiate athletes. An NLRB regional director ruled that they could unionize last year, but the actual board will have the final say. The Democratic majority board will likely uphold the ruling, which could give the players medical care and scholarship protection if they choose to unionize.
See "NLRB to Rule on Northwestern Football Players’ Bid to Unionize", Melanie Trottman and Douglas Belkin, July 31, 2015