White House circulates draft plan for federal overhaul of US college athletics

The White House College Sports Reform Committee has circulated a draft proposal representing the most significant federal intervention into US college athletics to date. The document, obtained by CBS Sports, outlines a comprehensive strategy to address the financial and legal pressures currently facing the ecosystem. Key elements of the plan include imposing salary caps on coaches and administrators, establishing a new playoff tournament for the Group of Six conferences, and creating a temporary task force with limited antitrust exemptions.

The proposal structures its implementation into three distinct phases: stabilisation, media rights reform, and permanent governance. The initial phase targets the immediate fiscal instability caused by rising costs, which have already forced some power programs to cut non-revenue sports and shrink athletic department staffs. To achieve this, the committee suggests capping coach salaries and prohibiting the use of Name, Image, and Likeness revenues to circumvent these limits. Additionally, the plan proposes a college version of the NBA's Bird Rule to incentivise player retention and reduce turnover in the transfer portal.

Central to the governance aspect of the draft is the creation of a temporary College Sports Reform Task Force. This body would operate within the existing NCAA structure for two years, armed with the authority to override state laws and enforce rules that carry permanent antitrust protection even after the task force dissolves. The committee envisions this entity eventually evolving into a permanent governing body overseen by a 15-member board comprising players, conference commissioners, and representatives from various divisions.

However, the efficacy of these reforms relies entirely on Congressional intervention. The plan explicitly states that none of the proposed ideas can be implemented without new legislation shielding the NCAA from lawsuits. The committee is urging Congress to pass this necessary legislation before the summer recess, even if the final bill is inconsistent with the specific recommendations made in the memo. The long-gestating SCORE Act is expected to be presented on the House floor around May 18, though leaders note it currently faces uncertainty regarding Senate passage.

The composition of the reform committee reflects a high-level approach to the crisis, with President Donald Trump serving as chair of the Oversight Committee. Vice chairs include New York Yankees president Randy Levine and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, while other members include former Alabama coach Nick Saban, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The committee was formed in March following an unprecedented roundtable aimed at saving college sports from sustained legal and financial stress.

While the draft marks a concrete step toward federal regulation, the document is explicitly marked for discussion purposes only. The committee is actively seeking input from industry participants and athletes before formalising policy. Consequently, the timeline for these changes remains dependent on the legislative process, with the current proposal serving as a framework for future debate rather than an immediate mandate.