Overview

• Sen. Maria Cantwell sent a five-page letter on Aug. 25 to leaders at more than 350 Division I schools urging input and warning that the Republican-backed SCORE Act would entrench advantages for the Big Ten and SEC.
• The bill has advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce committees on party-line votes and could reach the floor next month, with a few House Democrats listed as co-sponsors.
• Core provisions include limited antitrust immunity for the NCAA, federal preemption of state NIL laws and a bar on classifying college athletes as employees.
• Cantwell highlighted language she says could let the NCAA change or effectively remove the settlement’s 22% revenue-sharing cap, tilting spending power toward wealthier programs.
• Senate prospects remain uncertain, as passing a standalone measure would require at least 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.