Latest news with #RestoreCollegeSportsAct
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WA Rep. pushes bill that challenges NCAA settlement, seeks fair pay for student-athletes
This story was originally published on A Washington representative proposed a bill that would help create clear rules for the compensation student-athletes receive, and how to better distribute the earnings evenly. Advertisement Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Washington), Chair of the Congressional College Sports Caucus, proposed the Restore College Sports Act to combat the settlement agreement in the House v. NCAA litigation. 'The House settlement locks in an unsustainable model that enriches the power conferences at the expense of everyone else—walk-ons, women's teams, Olympic sports,' Baumgartner said. The NCAA settlement Grant House, a former Arizona State swimmer, sued the Power 5 NCAA conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and Pac-12) and landed a settlement that ended the prohibition on schools paying student-athletes for NIL (name, image, and likeness). Advertisement A major component of the new settlement included $2.7 billion in back pay for NCAA athletes who competed between 2016 and 2024. The money will come from the NCAA and all its conferences. Each school can share nearly $20 million of its revenue with student-athletes for NIL. The payments would come from media rights agreements, ticket sales, and sponsorships. Baumgartner's Restore College Sports Act Baumgartner cited key issues within college athletics that contributed to a financial imbalance between the NCAA and its athletes. 'Power 5 conferences generated approximately $3.3 billion in revenue in 2022 alone,' Baumgartner wrote. 'Average head football coach salary in Power 5 schools exceeded $6 million annually, compared to zero direct revenue sharing with athletes.' Advertisement Baumgartner also emphasized the impact that conference realignment can have on the academic performance of NCAA athletes. 'Overextended conference realignments cause excessive travel, undermining academic performance and athlete health,' Baumgartner stated. Baumgartners solution Baumgartner highlighted four key measures to address systematic inequities in NCAA athletics. The first is to establish a National Standards Commission. 'Create an independent commission, including student-athlete representation, empowered to set uniform national standards for collegiate athletics,' Baumgartner stated. Baumgartner's second decree is to implement equitable revenue sharing for NIL earnings. Advertisement 'Pools NIL revenues nationally and redistributes them equally to all student-athletes—ensuring equal shares for high-profile stars, women's sports athletes, freshmen in non-revenue sports, and team backups alike,' Baumgartner wrote. His last two goals are to end exploitative conference realignments, and to cap excessive coaching salaries. 'Requires athletic conferences to operate within single time zones, drastically reducing travel burdens and prioritizing student-athletes' academic and physical well-being,' Baumgartner stated. 'Sets reasonable limits on coaching salaries, reallocating savings to student-athlete educational resources, healthcare, and support services.' The impact of the Restore College Sports Act The act aims to provide student-athletes with fair treatment, improved educational outcomes, and financial support. Advertisement Baumgartner noted that the bill would prioritize the welfare of athletes, safeguard fairness, and promote integrity for all student-athletes. Baumgartner's call for a Trump Executive Order The release called for support from President Donald Trump to address the problems that Baumgartner highlighted. 'President Trump can step in to save college sports today,' Baumgartner said. 'My Restore College Sports Act is the roadmap, with fair revenue-sharing, rationalized conferences, and reasonable student compensation.' Baumgartner criticized the settlement's failure to address key issues within college athletics. Advertisement 'This settlement doesn't fix college sports,' Baumgartner stated. 'It codifies a system that will hurt walk-ons; squeeze Olympic sports, and hollow out Title IX-compliant women's teams—all to benefit a few power programs and television executives.' 'In 1905, college football was on the brink until President Theodore Roosevelt stepped in,' Baumgartner continued. 'He understood that leadership matters. Trump is uniquely positioned to do the same. He knows how to disrupt broken systems and restore competitive balance.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed bill could force huge pay cuts for most FBS football coaches
For decades, college sports have been dominated by billion-dollar TV deals, million-dollar coaches, and student-athletes fighting for scraps. Now, that power dynamic is being challenged by one of the biggest legislative moves in college athletics history. It's called the Restore College Sports Act. Salary Caps on Coaches Could Rebalance the Power At the heart of the bill is a salary cap that would limit coaches' pay to no more than 10 times the cost of attendance at their respective universities. It's a direct shot at the soaring coach salaries in football and basketball. For context, Georgia's Kirby Smart is currently the highest-paid coach in college football and would take a staggering $12.42 million pay cut from his $13.28 million annual salary. Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Texas' Steve Sarkisian would also be hit hard, facing reductions of $11.1 million and $10.6 million, respectively. Advertisement This isn't just about money but about equity. As over 200 FBS coaches could be impacted, the bill sends a clear message that the era of unchecked coaching payrolls may be coming to an end. New Governing Body, New Rules for Athletes The bill would also strip power from the NCAA and create the American College Sports Association (ACSA), a new federal body that would oversee college sports. This agency would be led by a commissioner appointed by the President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. What's more, student-athletes would gain real economic power. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals would be regulated and revenue, including broadcast money, would be shared equally among all athletes at each institution. Transfer rules would be lifted, giving players the same freedom coaches have long enjoyed. Advertisement The Bottom Line The Restore College Sports Act isn't just legislation. It's a referendum on how college athletics should work. It challenges deep-rooted inequalities and offers fans a chance to support a fairer system. The fight is just beginning, but for those who believe college sports should be about more than profits, this could bring real changes.
NBC Sports
09-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC Sports
New bill in Congress would revolutionize college athletics — and end the NCAA
College sports are currently experiencing the chaos they deserve. After decades of corrupt exploitation of athletes under the guise of amateurism, effective enforcement of the antitrust laws has turned things upside down. Now, there's an effort in Congress to throw college sports a lifeline. Via Nick Schultz of a bill introduced to the U.S. House of Representative on Monday would scrap the NCAA for an American College Sports Association. Submitted by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), it's called the Restore College Sports Act. The ASCA would have a commissioner, appointed by the president. Terms would include sharing of NIL funds among student athletes, equal distribution of broadcast revenue, and the ability to transfer 'freely' from one school to another. Here's one facet that is destined to draw a strenuous objection from the coaching profession: A coach's maximum annual salary would be limited to '10 times the full cost of attendance at such institution.' Frankly, that provision makes it seem like not a serious piece of legislation. But the underlying problem remains very serious for college sports. They need a solution. They could get one from Congress. It would be far better to come up with their own answer than to leave it to the politicians. Here's the inescapable reality. The best — and perhaps only — effective answer involves unionizing the work force and securing the antitrust exemption that comes from a multi-employer bargaining unit. That would allow the NCAA to operate like the NFL, with a salary cap and other rules for balancing player compensation with competitive equity.
