College Sports: Stuck in the Middle of Political Games

College sports are in a tough spot. There are big problems like NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and player eligibility rules. Leaders hope for a federal fix, but it's not looking good. Three Senate Democrats—Cantwell, Blumenthal, and Booker—are against the SCORE Act. They say it's not good for athletes. "The SCORE Act isn't fair to the players, " Cantwell said. "It helps everyone else but the athletes. " Blumenthal added that nothing will pass if it's only supported by one party. The SCORE Act is backed by the NCAA and big conferences. It had some momentum but hasn't been voted on yet. Even if it passes the House, it needs 60 Senate votes. That's a tall order. Meanwhile, the Democrats have their own bill, the SAFE Act. It would let conferences pool TV rights, something big conferences don't like. The SAFE Act also promises scholarships for 10 years and medical coverage for five years after eligibility ends. It has support from pro sports unions. The SCORE Act focuses on making House settlement terms official and keeping athletes from being classified as employees. It also sets a national standard for NIL laws. The NCAA and big conferences prefer this bill. Both parties agree that college sports need help. But finding common ground is hard. With things as they are, a solution seems far off.