Bipartisan Pushback Halts Major College Sports Bill in Congress

The recent attempt to pass a new college sports bill faced significant bipartisan resistance in Congress. The SCORE Act, aimed at regulating athlete compensation and transfer policies, was pulled from consideration just hours before a scheduled final vote.

Overview of the SCORE Act

The SCORE Act, short for Student Compensation And Opportunity Through Rights and Endorsements, aimed to provide clarity and stability within college sports. It was introduced in July and supported by members from both the Republican and Democratic parties. The legislation sought to empower the NCAA to set caps on school spending for NIL (name, image, likeness) deals and define transfer parameters for athletes.

This act was seen as a response to the surge of legal issues surrounding NIL compensation and the transfer portal in college athletics. Despite passing an initial vote of 210-209, it encountered significant pushback as critics voiced concerns regarding its implications for athletes’ rights.

Criticism and Concerns

Prominent critics included Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Concerns emerged that the legislation favored the NCAA and larger conferences at athletes’ expense. Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) stated that the bill would impose new restrictions on athletes without addressing instability within college sports.

• The bill aimed to prevent athletes from becoming university employees.
• The legislation included protections against antitrust lawsuits for the NCAA and associated bodies.
• Athletes could only transfer once and remain immediately eligible under the proposed rules.

Future of College Sports Legislation

Following the bill’s withdrawal, Rep. Trahan announced plans to introduce a competing piece of legislation. This new plan aims to establish federal standards for NIL rights and media rights pooling, along with the formation of a bipartisan Commission to Stabilize College Sports. This commission would have two years to develop recommendations for a lasting governance structure.

As Congress confronts growing division over college athletics, the direction of future legislation remains uncertain. The challenges within the industry continue to prompt calls for reform, but consensus among lawmakers proves elusive.