Across the country, student-athletes are returning to the field and the gymnasium. Stadiums are roaring to life, tailgates stretch for miles, and millions of Americans across the country devote hours to college sports. Still, behind the highlight reels and packed stands, college athletics stands at a crossroads.
Undoubtedly, the expansion of name, image, and likeness opportunities has empowered student-athletes to benefit from their talent. This development is a good thing. Unfortunately, shady agents, bad actors, and a patchwork of state laws threaten to undermine the progress student-athletes have made.
Between stories of athletes leaving their teams midseason over NIL-related disputes and bad actors taking advantage of the moment, it’s clear to student-athletes, college programs, and fans alike that the current pathway is unsustainable.
There are signs of progress, though. The recent House v. NCAA settlement was an important step forward. The agreement established revenue-sharing and paid almost $3 billion in damages to recently graduated student-athletes who were wrongly blocked from profiting off their name, image, and likeness. Over 300 colleges and universities opted into this agreement, knowing one thing: More work must be done to protect both student-athletes and college athletics itself.
That commitment leads us to the SCORE Act. This bipartisan bill doesn’t pick winners and losers: It creates clear national standards, levels the playing field, and protects student-athletes in every state, in every school, in every sport. The SCORE Act preserves what makes college sports special while bringing order to the chaos.
The SCORE Act is not just about five-star quarterbacks and McDonald’s All-Americans. This bill is about all student-athletes — whether they swim, run track, or play volleyball — having access to legal protections, financial literacy education, health coverage, and the academic support they need to thrive.
We have an opportunity to usher in a golden age of college athletics over the coming decades. Fan interest is at record highs. There are more college student-athletes than ever before, and they are signing life-changing NIL deals. These trends are undoubtedly good news, despite the challenges ahead. We are just missing one thing: a clear standard to ensure we don’t lose this progress.
That’s why conferences, universities, and athletes agree with us. The SCORE Act has been endorsed by the Division I, II, and III Student-Athlete Advisory Committees; multiple large conferences; small conferences; the historically black colleges and universities; the NCAA; and more. In today’s landscape, that kind of unity is rare.
One of the key problems with the current landscape is that the NCAA’s regulatory authority has been repeatedly challenged by a series of lawsuits, significantly limiting the ability of the association and its member institutions to regulate the NIL marketplace. Imposing even modest limits on transfers or eligibility has been difficult for the NCAA, which has had its hands tied.
The time has come for Congress to ensure the rules are clear and enforceable. The SCORE Act recognizes student-athletes as the students and athletes they are. The bill requires schools to provide the academic, career, and mental health support student-athletes need to prosper. By mandating up to three years of post-enrollment medical coverage, we can ensure that when these student-athletes hang up their cleats for the last time, they still have the tools and financial support they need to start the next chapter of their lives.
While student-athletes are enrolled in college, we guarantee they are protected with the appropriate workplace classification as student-athletes — not employees of the schools — placing an emphasis on their access to a world-class education during their time on campus.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committees agree: “This bill affirms what we know to be true regardless of division: student-athletes are students first … not employees.”
The SCORE Act flips the script. We are building a consistent structure around the NIL marketplace so athletes can maximize their earning potential. It also refocuses the conversation on why college sports matter in the first place. They connect communities, shape character, and develop skills that will last student-athletes a lifetime.
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As stadiums fill back up this season, remember that the success of college athletics is not inevitable. New opportunities and challenges in the NIL era have already changed the landscape. but it would be a grave mistake to ignore the work that needs to be done now.
The SCORE Act delivers on what fans, players, universities, and conferences have all asked of us: protect students, strengthen NIL, and stabilize this uniquely American institution. With college athletics overwhelmingly unified, it’s time for Congress to pass the SCORE Act and ensure that college sports can fulfill its incredible promise.
Brett Guthrie represents Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.