Congress could determine the future of college sports.
Thursday was a seminal day as to whether Congress can either salvage – or potentially ruin – intercollegiate athletics. It’s a congressional Hail Mary as senators address name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for athletes, compensation packages and transfers between schools.
"College sports is in crisis," declared Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
"There's a sense of urgency in that room you can feel it, right? You've got to do something rapidly," said Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.
The Commerce Committee approved a bipartisan gameplan to fundamentally alter college sports. The full Senate plans to debate the bill in July.
"We have put something on the table that's going to bring more certainty and predictability to the system," said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the panel.
Establishing a nationwide payout framework is a key aspect of the deal. Lawmakers know that inaction could mean that monied, major programs will simply outbid smaller schools. Perhaps even for a future NFL MVP.
"I'm worried that we'll never see a Josh Allen again at the University of Wyoming," said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., referring to the Buffalo Bills standout quarterback. "It leaves those of us who don't really have a donor base [to struggle to] pay for players of that caliber."
The bill also restricts athletes to one transfer between schools during a five-year period without a penalty.
"Now we have this unbelievable number of players that get in the (transfer) portal every year and we have nothing to control the agents," said former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban to a Senate panel earlier this month.
Lawmakers believe this plan will curb the constant roster chaos.
Advocates of the legislation believe it protects student-athletes.
"It definitely makes sure that predatory contracting done by agents or universities or conferences or shill organizations, don't get students stuck in binding arbitration," said Cantwell.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is the only former Division I college athlete in the Senate. He played tight end for Stanford's football team. Booker opposes the bill.
"I’ve seen decade after decade, how the NCAA has screwed athletes. And so we need to make sure there's firm athletic protections and not trust the NCAA to do it," said Booker.
But as Cruz and Tuberville both say, the situation in college sports is dire. There’s worry that the SEC and/or Big Ten might form a mega conference. Or develop their own broadcast platforms for games. And there may be a lot more Brendan Sorsbys as gaming becomes more ubiquitous.
None of this is going to get any better.
The future of college sports is on the line.
So, to fix it, the Senate might just give it the old college try.