A bipartisan bill to regulate college sports, including athlete payments and transfers, faces opposition from the Big Ten and SEC conferences. Former coach Nick Saban testified in support, warning of an unsustainable pay-for-play system. The opposing conferences cite unresolved issues with federal preemption of state laws.
Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) are advancing the "Protect College Sports" Act, a bipartisan bill intended to overhaul college athletics amidst rapid changes driven by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal. Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, supporting the bill and warning that the current system is unsustainable and risks devolving into a pay-for-play model. He noted that some schools spend as much as $40 million annually on football rosters, and coaches can earn up to $13 million per season. The proposed legislation includes provisions to regulate athlete payments, limit transfers to one per career, and restrict coaches from leaving programs mid-season. However, the bill faces significant opposition from the influential Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences, who released a statement arguing that the current version "leaves critical issues unresolved," particularly concerning the federal preemption of state laws. This opposition comes just before a scheduled hearing on the bill. While the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conferences support the legislation, the stance of the Big Ten and SEC, two of the wealthiest leagues, carries substantial weight. Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua also expressed concerns that escalating roster fees could lead to a "super league" of a few dominant schools, similar to a mini-NFL, which he believes is not in the spirit of college football. The article argues that this "super league" dynamic already exists, citing decades of championship winners dominated by a few elite programs, predating NIL.
The "Protect College Sports" Act aims to reshape college athletics, but opposition from major conferences highlights the difficulty in finding consensus on regulating NIL and player compensation, potentially impacting the future structure and competitive balance of college sports.