August 19, 2026
When people think about college athletics today, far too often the conversation centers on NIL, conference realignment and legal battles. Lost in that debate are the opportunities college sports have made possible for thousands of student-athletes, and what athletes and fans actually care about.
It would be a shame if the legal and financial battles surrounding college sports consumed all the oxygen in the room and came to define the student-athlete experience. Thankfully, that outcome isn’t set in stone. Congress can and should act before it is too late.