Sports and Athletics

Inside the Push to Overhaul College Athletics—and Empower Student-Athletes

Posted by Kim Muhammad on

Restore College Sports Act (Proposed)
Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Baumgartner
Date: April 7, 2025

Purpose of the Bill:

To replace the NCAA with a new organization called the American Collegiate Sports Association (ACSA), which will oversee and regulate college athletics with a focus on fairness, student-athlete rights, and equal revenue distribution—especially regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation.

Michael James Baumgartner

Key Points of the Act:

1. Creation of the ACSA

  • A new governing body, the American Collegiate Sports Association (ACSA), will take over all responsibilities currently held by the NCAA.

2. Who’s Involved

  • Member Institutions: Colleges and universities that join the ACSA.
  • Leadership: The ACSA will be led by a Commissioner, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving a 4-year term.

3. ACSA Rules & Structure

a. Fair NIL Compensation

  • All income related to student-athletes’ Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)—whether from the school or other entities (like collectives)—must be divided equally among all student-athletes at that school.

b. Free Transfers

  • Athletes can transfer between schools without any penalties or restrictions.

c. Regional Conferences

  • Athletic conferences must consist of schools within the same time zone to reduce travel demands and limit disruptions to athletes’ academic responsibilities.

d. Shared Revenue

  • All income from athletics (ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships, etc.) must be shared equally among schools and student-athletes within the ACSA.
  • Broadcasting revenue from televised college sports will also be equally shared across all ACSA member schools.

e. Salary Caps for Coaches

  • A head coach’s salary at any school in the ACSA cannot exceed 10 times the full cost of attending that school(tuition, room and board, etc.).

4. Compliance & Enforcement

  • The bill adds a new requirement to the Higher Education Act of 1965, stating that any school participating in federal student aid programs must be a member of the ACSA and follow its rules.

Why This Matters

This bill aims to reshape college athletics by:

  • Promoting equality in athlete compensation.
  • Reducing commercialization and excessive coach salaries.
  • Ensuring regional scheduling to protect academics.
  • Giving athletes more freedom and financial fairness.

HE IS MY CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THIS PROPOSAL BILL ABOVE:

THIS PROPOSAL LACKS CLARITY, FEASIBILITY, AND PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT ITS OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS AND LONG-TERM IMPACT.

Is This the Right Fix for College Sports?

While the Restore College Sports Act introduces sweeping reforms aimed at equity and fairness, it raises some important questions that deserve deeper discussion:

1. Could This Really Work?

Replacing the NCAA with a government-created entity like the ACSA is a massive structural shift. Would colleges actually comply with such a mandate—especially powerhouse programs with established brand and revenue independence? Could legal challenges stall or block implementation?

2. Will All Colleges Participate?

What happens if major conferences or schools opt out and form their own alliances outside of the ACSA? Could this create a fractured system where only some athletes benefit, while others are left behind?

3. Revenue Sharing Sounds Fair—But Is It Practical?

Equal distribution of revenue sounds good in theory—but would top programs like Alabama football or Duke basketball be willing to share their profits equally with smaller programs? Would this hurt competitiveness or even lead to budget cuts in other student services?

4. Government Oversight—Good or Bad?

Does the federal government truly have the best interest of student-athletes in mind? Historically, government-run programs are often bogged down in red tape and bureaucracy. Could oversight of college sports become another slow-moving, politicized system?

5. What Happens to the Spirit of Competition?

With equal pay, equal broadcasting revenue, and capped coaching salaries—will this kill the drive to win and invest in elite programs? Could it unintentionally dull the edge that makes college sports so compelling?

A Bill with Big Promises—And Big Questions

The Restore College Sports Act challenges the status quo and forces a national conversation—but before jumping on board, students, coaches, fans, and policymakers must ask themselves:
Does this bill protect the future of college athletes, or does it hand their fate to a different kind of system that may not be much better?

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