Kansas’ Sharice Davids can help bring stability to college athletes’ NIL | Opinion

College sports are in an exciting new era of name, image and likeness or NIL rights for student-athletes. Young adults are now monetizing their talents as they compete in sports that are beloved by Americans, all while also pursuing a degree.

Seeing student-athletes profiting from their abilities and commitment to their respective sports is a long-overdue development. However, the new system isn’t without pitfalls.

Given the lack of a national NIL framework, laws enacted in some states create inconsistent standards for student-athletes’ rights. Institutions in states with expanded NIL laws are more attractive for student-athletes, disadvantaging institutions in states without such laws as they compete for top talent. This leaves some programs on rocky footing as they struggle to fill out rosters. It eliminates opportunities for student-athletes and erodes the educational mission of college athletics.

Luckily, the House v. NCAA settlement offered solutions to some of the recent instability. Under the settlement, athletic departments can share up to $20.5 million in annual revenues directly with student-athletes, with that number gradually increasing over the next decade. This helps athletic programs retain student-athletes and prevents the devastating impact of large roster turnover. The House case also creates a vetting system for NIL deals valued at $600 or more to ensure third parties do not mislead student-athletes with overvalued offers that may not come to fruition.

However, while the House settlement is a step in the right direction, it does not solve varying state-by-state NIL laws that are altering the fabric and identity of college sports. Without a preemption of unfair state laws, educational opportunities for student-athletes and cherished rivalries and traditions loved by fans are at risk of being lost.

With the House settlement in place, the courts set the stage for Congress to act with legislation that codifies the settlement’s progress toward NIL reform and investments in student-athlete well-being. Shortly after the settlement was reached, Congress followed suit by introducing the bipartisan Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements or SCORE Act.

Under this legislation, NIL rules would be the same across all states. But the SCORE Act does more than stabilize NIL’s impact on college sports. The bill enhances the entire collegiate experience of student-athletes by expanding medical coverage, offering academic accommodations and allocating resources to mental health services. These policies ensure that education remains at the core of college sports, supports student-athlete’s right to monetize and control their NIL rights, and sets student-athletes up for post-college success

The SCORE Act is a great opportunity to preserve the future of college sports and the academic opportunities they create. Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids should help settle the biggest uncertainties facing collegiate sports by casting a yes vote on the SCORE Act. Davids’ support of this bill would ensure expanded resources to student-athletes that will support their success on the field, in the classroom and in their future careers, in addition to protecting the iconic competitions that bring friends and families together as fans.

Now is the time to push this policy football across the goal line and deliver a massive win for student-athletes as the fall sports season gets into full swing.

Shawn Summe is the athletic director of Avila University in Kansas City and a resident of Overland Park.