Senator Bill Cassidy Pushes Changes to NIL and College Athlete Rules

Bill Cassidy says Congress is working on possible changes to college athletics as NIL deals and revenue sharing reshape the system. After holding a roundtable with coaches, athletes, and experts, Cassidy said both the old NCAA model and the current NIL environment create problems for student-athletes. Lawmakers are reviewing issues such as athletes losing academic credits after transferring, lack of standard contracts, and the risk that many athletes earn short-term money but leave college without graduating. Cassidy said possible solutions include standard NIL agreements, stronger disclosure rules in the transfer portal, and policies that keep education at the center of college sports. The Senate plans to hold hearings later this month to explore federal legislation aimed at stabilizing college athletics while protecting student-athletes’ long-term success.