Two of college athletics’ most powerful conferences announced Tuesday they cannot back the current form of bipartisan federal legislation aimed at governing an industry grappling with rapid transformation where some athletes now earn millions of dollars.
The Southeastern and Big Ten conferences stated the legislation “leaves critical issues unresolved,” particularly failing to provide adequate federal override of state regulations – a component long viewed as essential for gaining NCAA and conference backing.
During a recent Associated Press interview, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who co-authored the measure with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., stated “the bill is drafted to preempt state laws that conflict with the provisions in this bill.”
The joint SEC-Big Ten announcement emerged just under 24 hours ahead of a planned Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the proposed legislation. Cruz leads the committee while Cantwell serves as the top-ranking Democrat.
While the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conferences have endorsed the proposal, the Big Ten and SEC wield the most influence as the wealthiest conferences with significant control over College Football Playoff decisions.
Among the measure’s main components is allowing conferences to combine their media rights – a concept the Big Ten and SEC have consistently argued would not produce the financial benefits supporters claim. The conferences’ joint statement did not address this particular provision.
A representative from Cruz’s Commerce Committee confirmed they are aware of the Big Ten-SEC stance.
