As the U.S. Senate returns to Washington, D.C., the NCAA launched a new video featuring student-athletes calling for passage of the Protect College Sports Act. The video, “Sorry to Interrupt,” features Division I student-athletes, representing a variety of sports, asking viewers to call their U.S. senators to advocate for passage of the legislation.
The student-athletes, who each captured their own footage on campus, speak directly to the challenges facing college sports and the need for Congress to bring greater stability to the system. The video will be promoted through digital platforms and shared across NCAA-owned platforms, including linear broadcast slots.
“College athletes from all three divisions, all across the country support the PCSA because, according to them, only Congress can deliver the targeted intervention necessary to ensure college sports continues to thrive. Right now, pro athletes are trying to sue their way back on to college rosters, robbing opportunities from young people who played by the rules. And the PCSA follows through on what college athletes from across the country have called for: a level playing field,” NCAA Senior Vice President of External Affairs Tim Buckley said.
If adopted, the Protect College Sports Act will restore common-sense rules to college athletics to stabilize the system for student-athletes, schools and fans. The act is broadly supported by student-athletes across all three divisions for several reasons, including that it:
- Sets an age-based eligibility rule, establishes a one-time transfer rule with limited exceptions, codifies the compensation cap, empowers the NCAA to set recruitment windows and provides limited antitrust protections to enforce those rules.
- Codifies student-athlete protections like post-eligibility healthcare benefits, scholarship (or “grant-in-aid”) guarantees, degree completion assistance, agent regulations and student-athlete representation on governance boards.
- Protects women’s and Olympic sports by codifying Division I sport minimums and creating enhanced roster and scholarship minimums for larger schools.
- Institutes a comprehensive framework for name, image and likeness governance.
- Requires student-athlete representation on key committees.
The NCAA also launched a one-click advocacy tool student-athletes, fans and member schools can use to contact their members of Congress. Learn more about the Protect College Sports Act: ncaa.org/protectcollegesports.
The video and campaign materials were produced by student-athletes, the NCAA and POOLHOUSE creative agency.
