CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod supports 'desperately needed' Protect College Sports Act

FBS conferences are divided on the Protect College Sports Act. Count Conference USA as one that supports it.

CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod threw her support behind the bill during CUSA Media Day on Tuesday, July 21, in Arlington, TX. She says that while it's "not perfect," it is "desperately needed."

"We understand it's going under revisions now, and some of what we've heard we don't know exactly, but (they) seem like positive changes... It's desperately needed," MacLeod said. "The state law preemption, agent regulation codifying transfer and eligibility regulations, the student athlete protections in there. We've got to have something because it's just not working, and it's not sustainable."

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MacLeod's support stems from her frustrations with unclear rules. She believes a federal law that supersedes state laws and various court decisions would make things easier and potentially limit lawsuits that challenge existing or new rules.

"It is really frustrating when we pass legislation, and then if it doesn't fit a certain school, whatever's going on at that particular place, then it gets challenged," MacLeod said. "Some of those schools voted for the legislation. Some of those conferences voted for it, but it doesn't fit my situation, so now I'm just going to challenge it. It's frustrating."

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Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) introduced the PCSA, and MacLeod says they "deserve hearty praise for the work that they've done." The bill proposes several changes to collegiate athletics, which include the following, but are not limited to:

• One free transfer, with exceptions for a second such as a head coach departure, discontinued sports, graduate study, or being a victim of sexual assault or harassment.
• Requires agents to be registered and that agent fees be capped at 5%.
• Scholarships cannot be revoked based on performance, injury or roster management.
• Schools and conferences may form an entity, with antitrust protection, to sell certain college media rights, provided that 75% of current FBS members take part.
• Extends post-eligibility medical coverage from schools to five years for injury or illness suffered through college sports. Division I schools with less than $20 million in annual revenue can access a fund of $60 million to provide coverage if they can demonstrate financial hardship. The $60 million may be funded by the proposed entity to sell media rights.
• Prevents coaches from leaving during the season, and that a coach or general manager's compensation above $500,000 can only be paid through sports revenues or donations to the athletic department.
• Establishes a 24-member congressional commission, with two members representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities and two members representing "mid-size conferences" (defined as those making less than $500 million in revenue annually) to study "long-term reforms," including compensation structures and governance. It's unclear what kind of power this commission would have.
• The NCAA must establish an independent "Office of the Student-Athlete Ombudsman" that would give athletes confidential, free advice about their rights and assist in the resolution of concerns.
• Provides antitrust exemptions on athlete compensation, eligibility, transfers, agent oversight and media rights. The antitrust protection would not apply to a breach or termination of existing media rights agreements.
• Enshrines elements of the House vs. NCAA settlement into law, including roster limits, the disclosure of NIL deals over $600 and a governing body to determine their "fair market value," and revenue-sharing limits (roughly $20.5 million per school initially, with annual increases).

There is also a proposed amendment that would cap Power Four conference membership at 19 or 20 teams, and that any P4 school hoping to switch conferences needs to be an independent for five years first.

Supporters of the PCSA say it will give collegiate athletics stability, protect non-revenue and Olympic sports, establish national standards, protect athletes and restore competitive balance. Critics argue it artificially depresses athlete compensation, restricts free movement, opens the door for private equity and doesn't go far enough to protect schools from antitrust lawsuits.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation claims 24 conferences support the PCSA. The ACC and Big 12 Conference support it, while the SEC and Big Ten Conference oppose it in its current form. The Senate Commerce Committee advanced the bill by a 19–9 vote, where it now awaits Senate consideration.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod supports 'desperately needed' Protect College Sports Act