College NIL bill includes $25 million 'retention pool' but is that enough to sway Big Ten, SEC?

AI Summary

A new Senate bill proposes to regulate college sports with a $25 million retention fund to help schools pay current athletes to remain, aiming to secure support from major collegiate athletic conferences including the Big Ten and SEC. This revision is part of ongoing legislative efforts to govern name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules.

A reworked Senate bill designed to regulate college sports proposes to more than double the amount of money schools could share with players as part of a flurry of revisions designed to win the support of the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences. Big Ten commissioner Tony Pettiti said Tuesday at his conference's football media days that he was waiting to review the new language in the Protect College Sports Act, and the hope is that the new version of the bill “provides a lot more help than not.” Among the key changes would be up to $25 million devoted to a “retention” pool that would allow schools to pay athletes already on their rosters to stay.