Overview

• Sen. Maria Cantwell told Division I presidents the bill would incentivize a Big Ten–SEC "Power 2" that disadvantages other leagues and leaves small and mid-sized schools behind.
• She flagged language allowing a revenue-sharing cap "at least" 22%, warning it could be raised beyond the settlement’s benchmark; the current 22% equals about $20.5 million per school this year with some third-party deals subject to College Sports Commission review.
• The SCORE Act would grant the NCAA limited antitrust protection, override state NIL laws, bar athlete employee status, codify terms of the recent compensation settlement, create a College Sports Commission, and require health and education benefits at most Division I schools.
• The measure cleared the House Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce committees on party-line votes, and a floor vote is expected next month as Cantwell seeks feedback from universities.
• The bill originated with Rep. Gus Bilirakis and counts backers including Republicans Jim Jordan, Brett Guthrie, Tim Walberg and Lisa McClain as well as Democrats Janelle Bynum, Shomari Figures, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, while Senate passage remains uncertain.