Federal law shields NCAA from antitrust while capping athlete pay at 22% of revenue

What it does

The SCORE Act creates a federal framework for student-athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, requiring transparency in NIL deals, establishing a 'pool limit' (minimum 22% of college sports revenue) that institutions can pay athletes collectively, and mandating that high-revenue institutions provide comprehensive support services, medical benefits, and degree completion assistance. It also preempts conflicting state laws and shields NCAA-style rule-making from antitrust challenge.

Why we flagged it

The bill's primary mechanism is a federal NIL compensation floor (pool limit) paired with broad antitrust immunity for NCAA-style rule-making. While framed as athlete protection, the immunity provision is the operative power shift—it shields athletic associations from legal challenge for wage-suppression rules.

What the text implies

• The 22% pool-limit floor may function as a de facto ceiling: institutions can comply by paying exactly 22% and face no legal pressure to exceed it, potentially suppressing athlete compensation below market rates.
• Antitrust immunity in Section 8 applies to 'any rule, regulation, requirement, standard, or other provision established pursuant to, or in compliance with, section 6'—this shields NCAA-style associations from Sherman Act challenges for rules that restrict athlete mobility, agent compensation (capped at 5%), or recruitment timing.

The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.

Who stands to gain

Student athletes (via NIL rights protection and mandatory institutional support); NCAA and Power Five conferences (via antitrust immunity for rule-making); High-revenue institutions (via federal preemption of state NIL laws, which may reduce compliance cos