Key facts
- Florida's Board of Governors is lobbying the state's congressional delegation on the "Protect College Sports Act."
- The bill proposes a five-year waiting period for colleges leaving major athletic conferences.
- A potential cap of 19 teams per Power Four conference is also part of the Senate legislation.
- Florida officials argue these provisions could restrict program growth and competition.
- Florida Sens. Ashley Moody and Rick Scott have engaged with the state's athletic directors on the bill.
Florida's state university system is actively lobbying its congressional delegation to influence the "Protect College Sports Act" as the Senate prepares for a potential vote. The Board of Governors views the current legislative period as a critical opportunity to shape the bill before senators depart for their August recess.
Key concerns for Florida officials revolve around two main provisions. One is a proposed five-year waiting period that would require colleges to remain independent for that duration after leaving one of the four major athletic conferences. University leaders fear this would stifle program growth and competitiveness. Florida State University board Chair Peter Collins likened the restriction to being forced to go to Cuba for five years before moving to Florida, arguing it makes no sense.
Another point of contention is a suggestion to cap the number of teams in each of the Power Four conferences at 19 schools. While some university officials support the idea of a cap, they question the arbitrary number and worry it would make upward mobility into larger conferences difficult. Scott Carr, athletic director at Florida International University, noted that schools in the SEC or Big Ten would likely not be concerned by such language as they are already aspirational targets.
Florida athletic directors reportedly discussed the bill with Florida Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott on Monday night. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell released an updated version of their bipartisan legislation on Tuesday, following weeks of negotiations with major athletics conferences and the Trump administration. Cruz is determined to pass the measure before the August recess.