Bill Proposes Replacing NCAA with New ACSA Body, Mandating Equal NIL Pay and Revenue Sharing for College Athletes

A new piece of legislation, the "Restore College Sports Act," proposes a major overhaul of college athletics governance by establishing the American Collegiate Sports Association (ACSA) to take over from the NCAA. This bill aims to reshape the financial and operational landscape of college sports through a set of mandated rules for member institutions, covering everything from athlete compensation and transfers to conference alignment and revenue distribution. Compliance would be tied to federal higher education funding, making membership effectively mandatory for many schools.

Meet the New Boss: What is the ACSA?

The core of the bill (SEC. 2) is the creation of the ACSA, designed as the new governing body for college sports. Unlike the NCAA, a private association, the ACSA would be led by a Commissioner appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the Senate for a four-year term. This introduces a direct line of federal oversight into college sports administration. The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, requiring institutions receiving federal student aid to be ACSA members and follow its rules. This structure centralizes significant authority under a politically appointed Commissioner, raising questions about potential political influence in sports governance.

Leveling the Playing Field or Capping Potential?

The ACSA would enforce sweeping financial changes. All revenue from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals would have to be pooled and distributed equally among all student-athletes at an institution. Similarly, all revenue generated by athletic programs must be shared equally between the member institutions and the student-athletes themselves. Broadcasting revenue gets the same treatment – shared equally among all member schools. Imagine a star quarterback's lucrative endorsement deal money being split evenly with the entire student-athlete body, or a smaller Division III school receiving the same broadcast payout as a major football powerhouse. Furthermore, coaches' salaries would be capped at 10 times the full cost of attendance for students at their university, potentially impacting recruitment and retention of top coaching talent at major programs. While aiming for equity, the practicalities of "equal distribution" aren't fully detailed, leaving room for interpretation and potential disputes.

Changing the Game: Transfers and Travel

Two other significant rules stand out. First, student-athletes would gain the ability to transfer between institutions freely without penalty, potentially leading to much greater player mobility – and perhaps less stability for team rosters. Second, athletic conferences would be geographically restricted, required to consist only of institutions located within the same time zone. This could drastically redraw conference maps, potentially benefiting regional rivalries but posing challenges for institutions in places like Alaska or Hawaii, or those currently competing successfully in geographically diverse conferences. While aiming to reduce travel burdens, it might limit competition opportunities for some schools.