Power Five Conferences Issue Joint Statement Dealing With NIL

Crossing Board

The Power Five conferences, which represent some of the largest and most influential college sports conferences in the United States, have expressed their support for a bipartisan proposal put forth by three U.S. senators: Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jerry Morgan (R-KS), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). The proposal aims to address name, image, and likeness NIL rules in college sports.

The proposed legislation would establish a “College Athletics Corporation,” a quasi-governmental agency responsible for providing oversight, rules, and protections for student athlete contracts regarding NIL rights. This proposal represents a significant step towards achieving a national solution to the issue of NIL rights in college athletics.

The joint statement from the Power Five conferences indicates their approval of the senators’ work on this legislation and their hope for further bipartisan efforts to address the matter. While there are still political obstacles to overcome before any Congressional legislation can be enacted, the conferences view this proposal as a promising starting point.

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff expressed his optimism about the proposed legislation, expecting more bills to be introduced soon and negotiations to follow among the various pieces of legislation. He referred to the bipartisan proposal as a positive step forward, acknowledging that there is still work to be done to refine the bill.

The release of the bipartisan proposal coincides with a leadership transition within the NCAA, with former president Mark Emmert being succeeded by Charlie Baker. Baker’s political background may be seen as beneficial in seeking legislative assistance for the NCAA’s initiatives, including the issue of NIL rights.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey,a prominent figure among the Power Five conferences, emphasized the need for federal NIL legislation and urged Congress to act on this matter. He stressed that Congress holds the responsibility to find a resolution since the issues surrounding NIL rights in college sports require a comprehensive and unified approach at the national level.