Alabama, Auburn Oppose College Sports Bill as 2 Power Conferences Resist NIL Overhaul
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 6
Alabama, Auburn Oppose College Sports Bill as 2 Power Conferences Resist NIL Overhaul
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 6
Summary
Alabama and Auburn issued a joint statement against the Protect College Sports Act, saying the bill would deepen rather than cure instability in college athletics.
The pushback adds to a widening lobbying fight over the Cruz-Cantwell proposal, which passed the Senate Commerce Committee 19-9 and would codify NIL protections, restrict midseason coaching moves and set transfer and eligibility rules.
The Big Ten and SEC already oppose the measure, arguing it fails to override the state-by-state NIL patchwork and would let all Division I schools pool future media rights, threatening larger conferences' edge.
Supporters including the NCAA, ACC, Big 12, NFL, MLB and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee are still backing the bill, but House Republicans also say it falls short on athlete labor-rights questions.
University leaders from Texas and Texas A&M have also objected as the pre-midterms calendar tightens, leaving the bill's path to enactment before the next academic year uncertain.