SEATTLE – A federal judge has cleared for trial a lawsuit challenging NCAA scholarship limits filed on behalf of walk-on football players who are shut out of financial benefits.

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour ruled that the lawsuit filed on behalf of a former Division I-A player should go to trial, rejecting an NCAA motion to dismiss the case. The association argued that as a noncommercial operation, it is not subject to antitrust laws.

Coughenour found in a ruling made Wednesday that the plaintiffs had made a case that the NCAA has monopoly power over college football, and that they should have the opportunity to demonstrate that this monopoly caused antitrust injury, in a ruling made Wednesday.

NCAA officials in Indianapolis did not immediately return a call for comment Friday.

The complaint filed by Andy Carroll, a University of Washington player who lettered from 1997-99, contends the NCAA scholarship limits exploit walk-on players who make up nearly a third of Division I-A college football rosters.

"The NCAA's artificial limit on the number of football scholarships is classic cartel behavior," the lawsuit says. "The NCAA and its member institutions control big-time college football. The NCAA uses that control to maximize revenues and minimize costs."

The lawsuit seeks an end to the NCAA limit on Division I-A scholarships, plus damages for football walk-ons who were harmed by the policy.

Until 1977, schools were allowed to offer as many scholarships as they saw fit, a rule that resulted in routine stockpiling of top players by top schools. The number of scholarships was set at 95 from 1977-91; at 92 in 1992; and 88 in 1993. It has been at 85 since 1994.

The complaint says this reduces expenses and maximize profitability at the expense of student athletes and in violation of antitrust laws. It says the limit affects poorer students, who may not be able to attend a Division I-A school without scholarships available for walk-ons.

Proponents say the scholarship reductions have made it easier for smaller colleges to compete against traditional heavyweights, and for all colleges to comply with federal Title IX gender-equity rules that require the same number of scholarships for men and women.

Carroll earned a position on the Washington team for the 1996-2000 seasons, playing wide receiver and a special teams before graduating in 2000. Though many smaller schools recruited him, Carroll chose the University of Washington because of its Division I-A status.

"When I began my football career at UW, I was also led to believe that if I played hard and played during the regular season in games, I had a shot at a scholarship," he said when the lawsuit was filed in May. "After my junior year when I had been playing in games I asked about a scholarship and I was told none were available due to the scholarship restrictions."

Carroll confirms that there were no promises.

"But there is the indication that if you get on the field and produce for the program, you have the potential to earn a scholarship. You feel you've earned it and when you go to ask for it, you're told they don't have it."