Trump urges Congress to pass college sports regulation bill

Former President Donald Trump has publicly urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, a Senate proposal aimed at regulating the business of college athletics. Trump described the current landscape as a 'total mess' and akin to 'pro sports' with no rules, highlighting concerns about schools losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually. He expressed a desire to sign the legislation into law this summer. The bill, sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, is intended to address issues such as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives and potential pay-for-play systems. Former Alabama coach Nick Saban testified that NIL collectives have seen a dramatic increase in funding, raising concerns about competitive bidding wars for recruits. However, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise voiced significant reservations, particularly regarding the bill's potential to create employment status issues for student-athletes and expose schools to increased litigation. Despite these hurdles, discussions are ongoing, with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti meeting with legislators.