Washington moves closer to nationwide rules
President Donald Trump has backed legislation that could produce the most extensive federal overhaul of American college sports in decades.
The Protect College Sports Act would introduce nationwide rules covering athlete compensation, name, image and likeness agreements, transfers, eligibility and medical protection. It would also provide the NCAA and athletic conferences with limited protection from antitrust lawsuits when enforcing certain rules.
The proposal was one of three subjects examined in NPR’s Up First programme, which described a rapidly changing industry in which court rulings have dismantled many of the restrictions previously imposed on athletes.
On September 15, the Senate voted 74-24 to end debate on whether to consider the bill. Two days later, senators voted 77-22 to begin formal consideration. Those procedural votes demonstrated substantial bipartisan support, but they did not constitute final Senate approval.
Read also: Nobody has done the TT and road race double since 1994: Evenepoel says Sunday is his shot
More money but tighter transfer rules
The bill would establish a federal right for college athletes to earn money from their name, image and likeness. It would also preserve the revenue-sharing system created through the House v. NCAA settlement while allowing schools to spend additional money through a new retention fund.
That fund would begin at $22.5 million and could rise to $27.5 million when a university matches additional spending on women’s and Olympic sports. Combined with the existing revenue-sharing mechanism, the legislation could allow major programmes to direct almost $49 million annually towards athletes.
The Senate Commerce Committee’s summary states that agents’ fees would be capped at five per cent. Athletes would receive longer scholarship guarantees, medical coverage for sports-related injuries and the right to take legal action when certain protections are violated.
Greater financial freedom would be accompanied by stricter sporting rules. Athletes would generally be permitted one transfer without sitting out a season, although exceptions would apply when a coach leaves, a programme is discontinued or an athlete moves to pursue a graduate degree. The legislation would also create a five-year eligibility framework with medical exceptions.
Read also: Jamie Carragher apologises to viewers after bold Liverpool verdict
Trump’s support meets opposition from athletes’ advocates
The White House formally endorsed the bill in August. In its statement of administration policy, the administration said Trump’s advisers would recommend that he sign the legislation if it reached his desk.
Supporters, including senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, argue that national standards are needed to replace conflicting state laws and repeated litigation. They also say the measure would protect women’s and Olympic programmes from cuts as football and basketball spending rises.
Opponents believe the bill grants too much authority to the NCAA, conferences and universities while limiting athletes’ ability to challenge the system. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy has accused those organisations of seeking permission to “illegally collude”, while the NAACP has also raised concerns about the treatment of athletes in the most profitable sports.
The bill has not yet become law. It must win final passage in the Senate, clear the more uncertain House of Representatives and then reach Trump for his signature. The strong procedural votes have moved it closer, but the battle over who should control the money and power in college sports remains unresolved.
Read also: Sydney Sweeney shares more revealing athlete photos as source says she has been in tears
Read also: Expert: Wirtz wants out of Liverpool to join Bayern Munich as big-money exit looms
