Rep. Baumgartner Introduces Bill to Replace NCAA with New Oversight Body

Rep. Michael Baumgartner has introduced the 'Restore College Sports Act' to overhaul college athletics governance by replacing the NCAA with the American College Sports Association (ACSA). The bill aims to establish a commissioner appointed by the president and mandates equitable distribution of NIL revenue among all student-athletes, alongside allowing unrestricted transfers. It also seeks to limit coaches’ salaries and require that conferences consist of schools within the same time zone, which addresses recent realignment issues. Baumgartner expressed concerns over the lack of competitive diversity in college sports, citing that all No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four in the recent NCAA tournament as evidence of the problem. The bill reflects a significant shift in athlete compensation and program governance, with a focus on including student-athletes in decision-making. This legislative effort comes amid ongoing discussions about the future of college sports and the impact of NIL deals on traditional competition.