Missouri's Schmitt co-sponsors new bill to reform college sports

May 27, 2026 - 19:52

A long-simmering debate over fixing college sports saw a new chapter Wednesday as a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to regulate payments to players and limit them to one "free" transfer over their careers. The legislation, co-sponsored by Missouri Republican Senator Josh Schmitt, aims to bring federal order to the chaotic landscape of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals and athlete movement.

The proposed bill would establish a national standard for compensating college athletes, replacing the patchwork of state laws that currently govern NIL agreements. Under the plan, schools could offer direct payments to players, but those payments would be subject to clear caps and transparency rules. A central feature of the bill is a strict limit on athlete transfers. Players would be allowed one transfer without having to sit out a season. Any subsequent move would require them to lose a year of eligibility, a rule designed to curb the free agency that has reshaped team rosters.

Supporters argue the measure is necessary to preserve competitive balance and prevent wealthy programs from buying up talent. Critics, however, say the transfer restriction unfairly limits player mobility and treats athletes differently from other students. The bill faces an uncertain path in a divided Congress, but its introduction signals growing frustration with the NCAA's inability to self-regulate. Schmitt said the goal is to create a stable system that protects both the athletes and the integrity of college sports.