Leveling the Field for College Athletics

College athletic opportunities go far beyond football and basketball. For students who compete in swimming, gymnastics, track and field, and others, a scholarship allows them the opportunity to receive a higher education whilst continuing their athletic career. As many universities try to navigate name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, direct athlete compensation, and transfer portal guidelines– it’s important that the smaller, non-revenue generating sports are preserved for the future generation of athletes. The Senate recently passed the Protect College Sports Act, led by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell. Passed in a 77-22 bipartisan vote, the legislation seeks to bring stricter guidelines for college athletics while protecting those in smaller programs from financial burdens.

One of the bill’s most significant benefits focuses on women’s sports and NCAA sport programs that help develop athletes who go on to compete at the Olympic level. The bill states that for the next nine years, schools generating at least $80 million in annual athletic revenue have to maintain the same number of roster spots and scholarships as they offered in the 2024-25 school year. Schools in the bracket of earning $50-$80 million in athletic revenue have to do the same for only four years. With a few exceptions, these requirements will assist in maintaining equal opportunities for athletes in sports that do not generate enough revenue to cover their costs. 

Smaller athletic departments could also benefit from similar provisions. The bill would allow smaller schools and conferences to voluntarily negotiate TV broadcasting rights designed to increase each participating school’s share of revenue. Additionally, there would be limits placed on certain athlete payments to help reduce financial pressure on smaller schools to spend beyond their budgets to compete with wealthier programs. Changes such as these could allow smaller schools to keep a wide variety of sports available for student athletes. 

The legislation also prioritizes protections for athletes’ earning potential, education, and health. To more closely align with professional leagues, student athletes can still earn money for their NIL, while agent fees for endorsement deals would be capped at 5%. It includes safeguards for scholarships, helps qualifying former athletes return to complete their degrees, and grants post-career athletes with five years of medical coverage for sports-related expenses. For schools struggling to meet these obligations, there are plans to create a medical fund to support schools facing financial hardship. Together, these changes help schools better support their athletes both on and off the field. 

While certain provisions of the bill such as transfer restrictions and antitrust protections have drawn criticism, many agree that the bill’s efforts to preserve scholarships, maintain roster-spots for women’s and non-revenue sports, provide better medical and academic support, and promote NIL protections for athletes outweigh most concerns. The bill still seeks passage through the House before it can reach President Trump’s desk. However, broad support in the Senate provides an opportunity to bring greater order and stability to a rapidly changing sector. As lawmakers consider this bill, preserving opportunities for women’s and other NCAA athletes should remain a priority. The future of college athletics depends on preserving these opportunities for generations to come.