Four federal proposals compete:
1. SCORE Act
2. SAFE Act
3. Saving College Sports
4. Senator Cruz-led legislation
All four proposals agree on basic items: 1. Modernization of NIL and revenue sharing; 2. Uniformity across all states; and 3. Student-athlete support.
However, the four proposals disagree on the specifics on implementation.
Saving College Sports is the only comprehensive, sustainable fix—protecting student-athletes, fans, women’s/Olympic sports, maximizing revenue, controlling costs, solving near-term problems and permanently preserving the entire ecosystem. The Saving College Sports proposal’s goal of saving ALL sports is in line with the 86% of Americans who support preserving and protecting women’s and Olympic sports.
| Issue | SCORE Act | SAFE Act | Saving College Sports | Sen. Cruz-led legislation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIL | Bans pay-for-play; caps via NCAA. Allows Revenue Sharing per House Settlement | Requires "business purpose." Allows Revenue Sharing per House Settlement | Bans Pay for Play. Allows Revenue sharing per House Settlement. Allows legitimate NIL for business purposes | Still being drafted |
| Governance | Restores NCAA Power + New Commission Controlled by Big Schools | NCAA but FTC and states can enforce | Creation of new, voluntary membership organization empowered to make and enforce rules. Board composed of former student-athletes, representatives from conferences, and non revenue sports | Still being drafted |
| Antitrust | Unprecedented and broad NCAA shield | Media pooling only | Protection for new independent entity to make and enforce rules and have decision-making over permissible pooled media rights. | Still being drafted |
| Employment Status | Athletes are non-employees | Unclear | Preserves the status of the "Student Athlete" - Education First | Still being drafted |
| Revenue Reform | Silent | Provides enhanced revenue for college sports through amendment of Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 | Grants new independent entity the ability to maximize revenue from all sources and through all means. Provides new governing entity with the option to opt-in to the Sports Broadcasting Act within 12 years. New entity would decide on distribution of revenues. No interruption of current media or conference contracts, but encouragement of reform and increased revenue for all schools | Still being drafted |
| Cost/Spending Controls | Silent | Silent | Creates coaching "salary cap" for revenue sports equal to amount paid to athletes. Buyouts limited to 50% of cap. Administrative expenses limited to a percentage of revenue TBD by Board after study. Encourages consideration of re-regionalizing conferences by new independent entity | Still being drafted |
| Agents | Vague Rules, voluntary registry | 5% cap, mandatory registry | 5% cap, background checks, sue bad actors | Still being drafted |
| Post-Sport Medical Care | Big School Only | 5 Year Medical Protection | 5 Year Medical Care for All Athletes | Still being drafted |
| State law Preemption | Broadly Preempts State Law with one standard for NIL and student-athlete issues determined by NCAA | One federal standard for NIL; otherwise silent on preemption | Broadly preempts State law with new governing body with representation of diverse stakeholders, including representatives for student-athletes | Still being drafted |
Provides alternative to NCAA with nimble private Board that represents all interests in the college sports ecosystem; empowers the entity to use commercial approach to maximize revenue and control cost; minimizes Federal role.
Mandates roster/scholarship maintenance across all sports, schools, conferences using commercial discipline. Makes the college sports responsible for its own preservation- NO REVENUE REDISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE OF INCREMENTAL REVENUE FOUND/CREATED
to act quickly, make and enforce common sense rulemaking, and commercially and increase revenue and control cost through a professional, commercial approach.
Reforms public reporting and creates accountability to the public for spending, Congress audit rights.
Will NOT interfere with current media, conference, or coaching contracts with an eye to a sustainable future. Clarifies rules that schools & athletes trust for the long run.
Americans across the country agree that women’s sports and Olympic sports must be saved. Team USA depends on this collegiate pipeline for international dominance.
Progress on ending the current chaos of college sports. Reinforces current status quo with a stronger NCAA, without revenue
Progress on student-athlete rights and reform, including revenue enhancement, but implementation of the plan is not fully developed.
Prevents status-quo slide into program cutting and destruction of the system, maximizes revenue, controls cost, maximizes athlete freedom, guarantees survival of ALL sports.
SCORE Act is an imperfect bill that should advance to the Senate so that debate and conversation may continue and further work can be done to develop a more- comprehensive solution that will be sustainable in the long run.
SAFE Act takes a longer term view of the health of the college sports ecosystem but introduces too much government oversight and bureaucracy.
Saving College Sports is the visionary, athlete-first framework that will save—and elevate—college sports for generations. It combines the best aspects of SAFE and SCORE, while introducing measures that will ensure empowerment, fairness, and fiscal sustainability for the entire college sports system. Most importantly, the SCS proposal considers the goals of all stakeholders in college sports and would provide a true bi-partisan victory to benefit schools, fans, communities and student-athletes.
The only plan that can get bi-partisan support in the Senate.
The only plan that meets the President's Executive Order to save collegiate women's and Olympic sports.
The only plan that protects everyone - student-athletes, universities, fans and local communities.