Alberts welcomes the potential of bipartisan legislation

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Texas A&M Director of Athletics Trev Alberts on Wednesday expressed hope the newly proposed Protect College Sports Act will bring a clear understanding of rules and procedures in college athletics.

The 111-page bill, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), addressed a variety of issues facing college athletics.

Alberts, speaking with reporters at SEC Spring Meetings, admitted he has not yet read the bill, but he welcomed the legislation.

“We’ve talked about creating real governance,” Alberts said after discussion with fellow athletic directors in Sandestin. “We need to have a clear understanding about what the rules are going to be, what the enforcement looks like.

“It’s an important time in college athletics. No, the system is not all broken. Lots of people are doing very well. Student-athletes are doing well. I just think some clarity and definition around the important items would be very helpful. Hopefully, this is a step in that direction.”

In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled the NCAA was not exempt from antitrust laws. That ruling left the NCAA with little ability to enforce its rules.

The Protect College Sports Act would grant the NCAA an antitrust exemption. That would enable the NCAA to enforce rules that have been challenged in court. Among those rules would be limiting athletes from transferring without penalty, banning colleges from signing players with professional experience and limiting player eligibility to five years.

The bill would also allow the NCAA to set and enforce a salary cap for the amount of money schools can pay athletes.

The bipartisan bill still has to survive several steps to become law.

Still, Alberts is encouraged by what he feels is progress.

“We’ve been talking — how many years has it been that we’ve been talking? — about a potential intervention and some help from Congress,” he said. “(I’m) Just really grateful for Senators Cantwell and Cruz and their effort.

“The challenge is the bill is 111 pages long. The reality is we need to work through the bill, see what’s actually in there. But I think this is a positive step.”