• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Republicans Won Big in the 2024 Election. So Did the NCAA

Republicans are more likely to pass a law that prevents college athletes from becoming employees and that gives the NCAA an antitrust exemption.

Surrounded by family members and supporters, Donald Trump makes his acceptance speech at his Election Night Watch Party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center after being elected the 47th President of the United States November 5, 2024.
Damon Higgins-Imagn Images

Since 2019, the NCAA and power conferences have staged a sophisticated, multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign in Congress that has so far been unsuccessful. In 2025, the NCAA may finally get to cash in on those efforts.

The 2024 election, which installed Donald Trump in the White House for a second term and gave Republicans control of the U.S. Senate, is a major win for the NCAA, which has been trying to get Congress to pass a law preventing athletes from being classified employees and securing antitrust protections to control compensation rules.

“We’ve had productive, substantive conversations with members of both parties in recent months and are optimistic an opportunity exists to advance a targeted, bipartisan solution to ensure a stable, equitable, and sustainable future for college sports for years to come,” NCAA SVP of external affairs Tim Buckley tells Front Office Sports on Wednesday. 

The governing body has said it hopes to take the House v. NCAA settlement, which would allow athletes to share revenue with schools for the first time, to Congress to use as a road map for a new law that would also include the anti-employment provisions and antitrust protections. 

A Republican-controlled Senate is more likely to pass a law including these provisions, sources previously told FOS. The leader of that effort, Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), won reelection Tuesday evening and is likely to become the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee in 2025—which has jurisdiction over college sports compensation issues. Cruz, currently the ranking member of Senate Commerce, has said that legislation governing college sports would be a major priority for him. He’s come out in support of the NCAA’s biggest requests. 

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, speaks during a rally at Million Air in El Paso on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Most of Cruz's remarks focused on drawing contrast between him and his opponent in the U.S. Senate race, Democratic U.S, Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.
Adam Powell-Imagn Images

The issue of employment, in particular, has seen a largely partisan split, according to some sources: Democrats didn’t want to sign onto an anti-employment bill that could be seen as prohibiting athletes’ rights to collectively bargain. “It’s a bad day to be a college athlete,” one Democratic congressional aide tells FOS. “Great day to be a college president or conference commissioner.”

Republican aides have said they believed that they had made headway in convincing several Democrats to swing toward an anti-employment provision. Either way, one Republican aide said there’s still an expectation that any college sports bill would have to be bipartisan, even if the House ends up with a Republican majority. But that aide is confident several Democrats have become more amenable to an anti-employment provision in recent months, and doesn’t think the issue is as partisan as others have described it.

There will be opposition. Labor unions could try to block a bill of this nature, and other groups have begun their own lobbying efforts related to the future of college sports. But that may not be enough in a Republican-controlled government.

The National Labor Relations Board could be the last hope for preserving the ability for athletes to win employment and collective bargaining rights before Congress can pass a law. The NLRB could still make a pro-athlete decision before Congress or Trump can step in.

Two cases, one about Dartmouth men’s basketball players and another about USC football and basketball players, are currently pending at the NLRB. In the Dartmouth case, players have been declared employees with the right to bargain—and the national board has yet to say whether it will grant the NCAA’s appeal. The USC case was heard this past winter, and it is waiting on a ruling from an administrative law judge.

The national board’s current makeup is pro-labor (and likely pro-athlete), with three Democrats, one Republican, and one vacancy. Trump is expected to begin appointing pro-employer board members, but the cadence of appointments is such that there wouldn’t be a Republican majority until at least 2026. 

NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, who decides which cases to take up on the NLRB’s behalf, is currently in favor of athletes becoming employees. But her days in office are likely numbered—Trump is expected to replace her with a more conservative general counsel who may not be able to halt the Dartmouth and USC cases, but certainly wouldn’t help them. 

Less than a year ago, the NCAA’s business model of amateurism appeared to be on life support: The NLRB was releasing decisions in the athletes’ favor, multiple court cases threatened to bankrupt the governing body, and Congress seemed unwilling or unable to save it. But the election has handed the NCAA a potential trump card.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back DeShon Singleton (8) celebrates after making an interception during the game against Michigan State at Memorial Stadium.
exclusive

Big Ten Considering Investment From California Pension Fund

In the proposed deal, the Big Ten would spin off assets into a new entity.
Sep 20, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule walks onto the field before the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium.

Big Ten Teams Grapple With Long Flights, Time-Zone Hurdles

Coaches across the country are noticing some impact.
Oct 4, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys outside linebacker Poasa Ute (35) and Wendell Gregory (4) celebrate during the third quarter of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium.
exclusive

New Bill Aims to Prohibit Athletic Department, Conference Private-Equity Deals

The bill would bar schools from selling ownership stakes.
Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans former quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (left) and Matt Leinart watch from the sidelines during the Pac-12 Championship game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium.

Mark Sanchez, Fox Sports Sued Over Alley Fight That Turned Bloody

The high-profile incident took place Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium.
October 6, 2025

Penn State Has a $50 Million James Franklin Problem

Franklin’s team lost to unranked UCLA on Saturday despite being heavy favorites.
Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) passes the ball during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl.
October 6, 2025

The Improbability of UCLA’s Incredible Upset Win Against Penn State

Before UCLA beat Penn State, donors were deeply unhappy.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 5, 2025

CFB’s New Parity Era: Penn State, Texas Top-25 Exits Signal Shift

Penn State and Texas fall entirely out of the top-25 rankings.
Cody Campbell
October 4, 2025

Fox, ABC Reject Ad Accusing Power Conference Commissioners of Greed

Cody Campbell said the ads were pulled after he paid for them.
Florida State defensive back Renardo Green (8) tackles Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (22) during a college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
October 2, 2025

Miami–Florida State Rivalry Heats Up With Priciest Ticket in CFB

The get-in price for Saturday’s matchup in Tallahassee is more than $300.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

Opendorse Is Taking Over Parts of Failed NIL Collective Operator SANIL

SANIL abruptly shut down its operations this week.