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COLLEGE SPORTS LEGISLATION

Senate Democrats introduce bill to amend Sports Broadcasting Act

Senate Democrats introduce the SAFE Act
Led by Sen. Maria Cantwell, with Cory Booker and Richard Blumenthal as co-sponsors, Democrats unveiled the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act. The bill expands athlete protections and proposes a major change: amending the Sports Broadcasting Act to let conferences pool media rights.

What’s inside

• Two free transfers per athlete

• Scholarships guaranteed for 10 years

• Five years of post-eligibility medical coverage

• NIL rules tied to NCAA oversight and the House settlement

• Enforcement power given to the FTC and state attorneys general

Why it matters
The SBA change could boost media revenues and help sustain Olympic sports, but major leagues like the SEC and Big Ten have pushed back.

The politics
The SAFE Act stands in contrast to Republicans’ SCORE Act, which avoids SBA changes and gives the NCAA liability protection. With no bipartisan support and key GOP leaders opposed, its path to passage is uncertain.

📄 Read full Yahoo Sports article here

COLLEGE SPORTS BRAND POWER

$55 billion deal for Electronic Arts is biggest buyout ever

Electronic Arts agreed to be taken private in a $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. The deal values EA at $210 per share—a 25% premium—and would be the largest private buyout of a public company on record.

How it’s funded

• $20 billion loan from JPMorgan Chase

• Saudi PIF, already a 10% shareholder, takes the lead

• Investors and EA both face $1B penalties if the deal collapses

What it means for EA

• EA remains based in California under CEO Andrew Wilson

• Flagship titles like Madden and EA Sports FC could expand onto mobile and streaming platforms

• Analysts expect more free-to-play offerings, backed by in-app purchases and distribution partnerships

Geopolitical angle

• The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. must approve, with scrutiny likely over national security and foreign data access

• The deal highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing push into gaming and global sports, from esports to golf and soccer

Big picture
This marks the largest step yet in Saudi Arabia’s $38B gaming strategy, tying one of America’s biggest sports-gaming companies into its broader sports and entertainment play. If approved, the deal could reshape how EA delivers games—and how foreign capital influences U.S. media and tech..

🏫 Read full New York Times article here

PRIVATE EQUITY

Sources: Big Ten discussing $2 billion private capital deal

The conference is exploring a private investment worth at least $2 billion, tied to a 10-year grant of rights extension through 2046. The plan would create Big Ten Enterprises, a new arm to centralize media rights, sponsorships, and other revenue streams.

How it would work

• Schools would receive an immediate nine-figure payout, scaled by brand size

• Investors would get annual returns but no control over scheduling, championships, or governance

• Pooling assets could boost the value of media and sponsorship deals

Where things stand
Most schools support the plan, but Ohio State and Michigan are still reviewing. Leaders want unanimous approval before a vote, and payout tiers are still being finalized.

Why it matters
With athlete revenue sharing on the horizon, schools need new cash flow. The deal could stabilize finances, fend off “super league” pushes, and change how conferences monetize their scale.

Big picture
The Big Ten isn’t selling itself off—it’s restructuring to operate more like a corporation. If successful, the move could set a template for the future of college sports finance.

🏫 Read full ESPN article here

COLLEGE SPORTS LEGISLATION

Why Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 amendment is crucial piece to newly introduced SAFE Act

SAFE Act Hits Capitol Hill
Sens. Maria Cantwell, Richard Blumenthal, and Cory Booker introduced the Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act, aiming to codify parts of the NCAA’s House settlement and amend the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 so college conferences can pool media rights.

The Pitch
With athletic departments facing rising costs and dwindling subsidies, the bill’s backers argue collective rights could unlock billions in new revenue to keep Olympic and women’s sports afloat. Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell, who’s pushed for the change, says it’s one of the only levers left as schools can no longer rely on student fees or institutional support to balance budgets.

What’s Next
Resistance remains from major conferences unwilling to give up control of their own deals. And with Republicans backing the rival SCORE Act, SAFE faces long odds — but it signals growing urgency to find new revenue models as old funding pipelines dry up.

💰️ Read full Sports Business Journal article here

COLLEGE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

AO see: Athletes.org tax docs reveal prospective college union finances

Athletes.org Shows Early Finances
Athletes.org, the college athlete association founded by INFLCR’s Jim Cavale, reported $3.1 million in loans from Cavale’s for-profit company over its first two years. Its first public tax returns show $2.14 million in expenses against minimal revenue, highlighting how new athlete advocacy groups are funded differently than traditional nonprofits.

Leadership and Mission
Cavale leads the board but draws no salary, while former athletes and legal experts serve unpaid. The group is pushing for collective bargaining rights and has already presented a draft agreement to power conference athletic directors.

Why It Matters
Athletes.org reflects how modern college athlete advocacy is funded and structured, relying on private capital to operate while seeking systemic changes in athlete rights and revenue sharing.

🏈 Read full Sportico article here

NIL COMPLIANCE

Fed-up NIL collectives are bypassing NIL deal approval process

NIL Go Struggles to Keep Up
Multiple power conference collectives are starting to bypass the NIL Go approval system, paying athletes before deals are signed off—or not submitting deals at all—citing slow feedback and system inefficiencies. Sources say the backlog and delays, including roughly $11 million in deals stuck in limbo, are creating an unsustainable landscape.

Compliance vs. Reality
The College Sports Commission reminds schools and athletes that pay-for-play deals remain prohibited and eligibility consequences still apply. But with only four full-time staffers to police thousands of submissions, enforcement may be extremely limited.

Why It Matters
NIL Go’s early struggles highlight the challenges of regulating the post-House settlement NIL landscape. Collectives and athletes are frustrated, and without a scalable system, the rules intended to protect fairness may be increasingly ignored.

📈 Read full Front Office Sports article here

Start 2/Bench 2

⬆️ New Orleans. New Orleans will host the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 24, 2028, marking its first title game since LSU’s win over Clemson in 2020. - Nick Kosko

⬆️ Dante Moore. Dante Moore has thrown for 1,210 yards and 14 touchdowns with just one interception through five games. He impressed last week in Oregon’s overtime win at Penn State, putting him atop Heisman Trophy discussions. – Thomas Goldkamp

⬇️ Sam Pittman. Arkansas fired Sam Pittman after a 2-3 start that included a 56-13 loss to Notre Dame, ending his six-season tenure with a 32-34 record. - Mike Wilson

⬇️ USC Women’s Basketball. USC women’s basketball will be without All-American JuJu Watkins for the 2025-26 season as she focuses on recovering from a season-ending injury sustained in last year’s NCAA Tournament. - USC WBB