UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences have agreed to support a Senate bill that seeks to regulate college sports, ending a breakneck week of negotiations and pulling the bipartisan measure out of what looked like a certain death spiral. School presidents from both conferences voted to back the bill after receiving last-minute concessions over language regarding third-party name-image-likeness deals and the so-called “associated entities” that often make those arrangements. More details need to be worked out, but the headline is that the bill still has a chance to earn the 60 votes it needs to halt debate and head to an up-or-down vote before the Senate heads for summer break.
UNDATED (AP) — Over 100 women's college basketball players have formed the United College Athletes Association, a union for college athletes. The UCAA announced this on Friday. This comes two years after players requested collaboration on issues affecting college athletics, which was denied. Now, these athletes have signed union authorization cards for collective bargaining. The announcement follows the College Football Players Association's recent move at Stanford. The UCAA aims to represent and protect athletes, ensuring fair and safe sports. Oregon State's women's basketball team has filed for union representation. The UCAA's mission is to give athletes a voice in decision-making.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A judge in Colorado and a Nashville chancellor issued rulings Friday that will give 30 basketball players a fifth season of eligibility and prevent the NCAA from keeping them out of the transfer portal. I’Ashea Myles of the Davidson County Chancery Court issued a temporary injunction to Jalen Washington and 18 other players to retain their eligibility. A few hours later, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney in Colorado granted a preliminary injunction giving student-athletes from the high school Class of 2022 another year of eligibility for the upcoming school year. Sweeney ruled that the injunction should cover the entire class of 2022 high school graduates facing similar circumstances.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate negotiators are working to resolve thorny differences with leaders of the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences over revisions to a bill designed to regulate college sports that sponsors want a vote on before the chamber goes on summer break next week. Bill sponsor Ted Cruz of Texas says the conversations are ongoing. Cruz and co-sponsor Maria Cantwell of Washington are pushing to bring the Protect College Sports Act to a vote before Aug. 7, the last day the Senate meets before going on break. Senators return for the second half of September, before breaking for all of October -- leaving little time remaining before the November midterms.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU coach Sonny Dykes feels like the Horned Frogs are off to a clean start. They held their first practice Wednesday, exactly a month before an early season opener in Ireland against North Carolina. TCU has new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis and new quarterback in Harvard transfer Jaden Craig. They had no turnovers or false starts on the first day. All that work done by the team during spring drills and offseason workouts seems to have carried over into the start of fall camp. The season opener is August 29.
UNDATED (AP) — A reworked Senate bill aims to regulate college sports by more than doubling the money schools can share with players. The Protect College Sports Act proposes up to $25 million for a “retention” pool to pay athletes to stay on rosters. This is in addition to the $21.3 million schools are allowed to spend this season. The House settlement calls for 22% of certain revenues to be shared with athletes. The bill's future in the Senate remains uncertain.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA Division I Board of Directors is standing firm on its new age-based eligibility rule despite legal challenges. The rule allows athletes five seasons of competition over a five-year period starting with full-time enrollment or the academic year after their 19th birthday. Lawsuits have been filed, arguing the rule unfairly limits athletes' college careers. The board insists the rule is well-informed and widely supported. It eliminates waivers for extended eligibility, except for specific cases like military service. The SEC supports the rule although some leaders have concerns about its timing and effectiveness.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball players have proposed expanding eligibility for the amateur draft rather than decreasing it, maintaining 20 rounds of selections and moving it back to June. It's another signal the sport is heading to a labor confrontation this offseason. The union proposed allowing college sophomores to be eligible for the draft along with those finishing their junior years. That's a group eligible under the current rules along with high school seniors. Players proposed moving the draft back to June, when it was held through 2020. They asked that draft slot values continue to be increased at the same percentage as industry revenue through 2027.
