Senator Ted Cruz Warns of 'Absolute Crisis' in College Football, Urges Congressional Action
Senator Ted Cruz has described the current state of college football as an 'absolute crisis,' highlighting the disruptive effects of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies on state college programs. Cruz pointed to the Iowa State Cyclones as a case in point, noting that the team has just 17 players rostered for next season and only one returning starter as it rebuilds following head coach Matt Campbell's departure to Penn State.
Cruz has long advocated for regulating NIL and introduced the Student-Athlete Compensation and Opportunity for Revenue Equity (SCORE) Act in 2023 to tackle systemic issues within college sports. The legislation proposes granting the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption, preventing athletes from becoming university employees, and treating student-athletes as small-business owners. It also seeks to preempt state NIL laws and establish a revenue-sharing framework, directing at least 22% of the average annual revenue from the 70 highest-earning schools into a shared pool for athletes.
The SCORE Act enjoys backing from conservative groups who view it as a pragmatic alternative to the SAFE Act, with indications of bipartisan support emerging in the House. Senator Cruz continues to press for cross-partisan reforms, warning that failure to enact measures addressing NIL and transfer portal challenges would be a tragedy amid ongoing transformations in college athletics.
