Don’t Let Washington Take Over College Sports

College sports work best when the rules are clear and the government stays out of the way. Heavy-handed federal intervention would turn college athletics into another Washington-run bureaucracy. That would empower regulators, enrich trial lawyers, and hand influence to Big Labor, all while making the system more confusing for schools and athletes alike.

The better solution is simple: establish clear national rules that everyone understands and follows. That is exactly what the U.S. House proposal known as the “Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act” aims to do.

Recent proposals to have Washington directly manage college athletics would move the country in the wrong direction. Instead of stability, they would inject politics and bureaucracy into a system that needs predictable rules.

Washington Is Considering a Federal Takeover

The debate over college sports policy has intensified in recent weeks. Some policymakers have floated ideas ranging from federal commissions to executive actions intended to reshape how college athletics operates.

In a recent op-ed in the Washington Times, economist Steve Moore warned against turning college athletics into a government-run system. Moore argued that Washington should not allow socialism-style policies to reshape college sports, emphasizing that while reforms may be necessary, government control would create far more problems than it solves.

Other proposals go even further. Some policymakers have discussed government panels negotiating television media rights and regulating the financial structure of college athletics. Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) warns that this approach would centralize power in Washington and disrupt the market forces that currently drive the industry.

Such proposals would likely produce exactly what fans and athletes do not want: more lawyers, more litigation, and more bureaucracy.

Government Control Would Create Chaos

A federal takeover of college athletics would introduce several new risks.

First, it would invite constant litigation. Trial lawyers would gain a powerful new role in policing the industry, creating uncertainty for schools and athletes.

Second, it would open the door to labor unionization schemes that fundamentally change the student-athlete model.

Third, it would give Washington regulators sweeping authority over a complex marketplace that currently relies on voluntary agreements among schools, conferences, and athletes.

Instead of stability, the result would be years of regulatory battles and courtroom fights.

The SCORE Act Offers a Market-Based Path

The real need in college athletics is predictability. Schools and athletes need to know the rules ahead of time so they can make informed decisions.

The “SCORE Act” offers a path toward that stability.

The legislation would establish clear national standards governing name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation and other key aspects of college athletics. By creating a uniform federal framework, it would prevent the current patchwork of state laws from creating confusion and competitive imbalance.

Just as important, the legislation avoids turning Washington into the day-to-day manager of college sports. Instead, it sets clear guardrails and allows the system to function.

In other words, the law provides rules without imposing federal micromanagement.

Broad Conservative Support Is Emerging

The push for the “SCORE Act” has also drawn broad support across the conservative policy community.

More than 20 conservative organizations have publicly backed the legislation, arguing that a clear federal framework is needed to restore stability in college athletics and prevent the system from collapsing into endless litigation and regulatory confusion.

This growing coalition reflects a shared concern: without clear national rules, courts and regulators will effectively decide the future of college sports.

The goal should not be to federalize college sports. It should be to establish predictable rules that preserve competition, protect athletes, and allow the industry to function.

CFE Takeaway

College sports do not need a Washington takeover. They need clear rules.

Government panels negotiating media rights or running the industry would empower bureaucrats, trial lawyers, and labor unions while undermining the competitive system that fans and athletes enjoy today.

The better path is a market-oriented framework that sets clear national standards and lets schools and athletes operate within them.

The “SCORE Act” moves in that direction. By establishing predictable rules while avoiding federal micromanagement, it offers the stability college athletics needs without turning the industry into another Washington program.