The White House committee tasked with reforming college athletics is “circulating a draft of ideas for discussion” that would constitute the “most ambitious federal government intervention into college sports ever,” according to Brandon Marcello of CBSSPORTS.com. President Trump’s College Sports Reform Committee calls for a new College Sports Reform Task Force, overseen by Congress, that “would be established within the existing NCAA structure, armed with limited antitrust exemptions and the authority to override state laws.” The task force “would operate for two years, and any rules it sets during that period would carry permanent antitrust protection.” The document outlines three phases, “stabilization, media rights reform and permanent governance:”
Phase 1 “calls for salary caps for coaches and administrators,” aimed at addressing “rising costs in college athletics.” Also outlined is the “prohibition on NIL-based salary cap circumvention, a growing concern as booster collectives and athletic departments redirect multimedia rights and apparel revenues.” The committee also wishes to “modify the CFP’s revenue distribution and create a separate playoff for the Group of Six conferences.” They also suggest possibly “shaking up conference membership for non-revenue sports ‘to decrease travel costs and burden.’” Phase 2 proposes pooling models for media rights, “including an opt-in structure where 75 or more schools combining rights at contract expiration would receive antitrust protection.” Existing conference deals — the ACC’s contract is the last major agreement to expire in 2036 — make any “near-term structural change gradual.” Phase 3 calls for a “15-member board to oversee a permanent governing body, born of the College Sports Reform Task Force.” It would “be made up of players, power conference commissioners, Notre Dame’s athletic director, two representatives from other conferences, one representative from Division II and III, an independent representative and an attorney” (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/8).