A U.S. senator has expressed concerns about a proposed federal bill that could reshape the landscape of college sports. In a letter sent Monday to leaders at more than 350 Division I schools, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington warned that the SCORE Act, if passed without changes, could create significant inequities in college athletics.
Cantwell, who serves as the ranking member of a committee overseeing college sports, wrote that the legislation would “incentivize a Power 2 conference system that will create inequities for other conferences and leave behind small to mid-sized schools.” The “Power 2” refers to the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, which currently have major influence over decisions regarding the College Football Playoff and benefit from a $7.8 billion media-rights deal.
The House is expected to vote on the SCORE Act next month. The bill proposes granting the NCAA limited antitrust protection, overriding state laws on name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments to athletes, and preventing student-athletes from being classified as employees of their universities.
Cantwell raised concerns about provisions in the bill related to revenue sharing among athletes. She highlighted that removing a recently approved 22% cap on revenue sharing could allow some schools to exceed current payout limits through third-party deals approved by a new College Sports Commission. According to Cantwell: “If passed, the SCORE Act will entrench the current arms race to recruit and retain athletes and leave small and mid-sized schools unable to compete for championships and postseason games, along with the inability to earn the increased revenue that comes with those opportunities.”
While supporters say there is bipartisan backing for the bill—citing Representatives Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.) and Shomari Figures (D-Ala.) among its proponents—many Democrats argue it favors NCAA interests over those of student-athletes.
Cantwell also referenced reports showing former Pac-12 schools are set to receive significantly less television revenue following recent conference realignments. Additionally, she noted changes within the Atlantic Coast Conference distribution model where most funds are now tied directly to viewership ratings driven largely by football and men’s basketball performance.
“Ultimately, the broad antitrust exemption in the SCORE Act would widen existing inequities among schools and conferences, creating long-term instability for schools of all sizes,” Cantwell said.
The Senate would need support from at least seven Democrats for passage if considered as a standalone measure; however, there remains potential for it to be included in broader legislative packages where amendments may be more difficult.
