Stephen Tsai: NCAA hoping feds can help clean up mess in college athletics

The NCAA is seeking federal assistance to address issues arising from the evolving landscape that enables student-athletes. The powerful football conferences dominate the NCAA, monopolizing television revenue and postseason appearances, while collectively declaring themselves "power" conferences. They have usurped the Big East and scorched what remains of the historically proud Pac-12.

The courts allowed players to monetize their names, images, and likenesses, leading to a revenue-sharing mandate where schools can directly pay student-athletes from a pool of up to $20.5 million annually. Schools can now transfer athletes multiple times without penalties. Meanwhile, lower-ranked schools struggle to attract talent from the transfer portal.

State courts have ruled against NCAA guidelines, creating a complex situation. Federal lawmakers now want to intervene, proposing national regulations on NIL deals, revenue sharing caps, transfer limits, agent fees, and collective negotiations on media rights. While some aspects of the proposed legislation are valid, the NCAA's medical coverage for former players and opportunities for post-eligibility education were part of the original recruiting pitch.

The proposal to allow players five years to play five seasons is seen as cleaner, despite the loss of redshirting. However, many senior players were misled about their eligibility and missed the opportunity to utilize their fifth season. There should be exemptions for players who miss time due to family emergencies, such as a UH student athlete who suffered a knee injury.

Capping revenue sharing at inflation-adjusted levels is financially prudent, but the current $20.5 million limit might not be necessary, as most schools can't even come close to that figure.