Congressional Action Can Renew College Sports’ Mission

By Emma Strom 

As a member of the University of Arizona women's gymnastics team, I challenge myself daily, on the mat and in the classroom. Balancing schoolwork and sports is what makes college athletics so special, and without this educational model, I would lose out on the incredible chance to pursue a college degree. But given the mounting pressures on college sports, future gymnasts and many other student-athletes could be deprived of this life-changing opportunity.

In the last few years, college athletics has evolved from an institution of fair competition and clear guidelines to one of unequal standards and confusing rules. I fully support student-athletes earning their name, image, and likeness (NIL), a long-overdue recognition of our value. But without a national NIL framework, states have created conflicting policies that give some schools unfair advantages. This uneven playing field exacerbates competitive challenges and financial strains that put non-revenue-generating sports at risk.

Consider my gymnastics program. Among college sports fans, it receives little attention compared to football and basketball, but it plays a critical role in developing Olympic athletes. No country competes at a higher level in gymnastics than the United States, and a majority of Americans cited it as their favorite sport to watch during last year’s Paris Olympics. Other quintessential Olympic sports, from swimming to track & field, also owe their success to college sports programs. As our country hosts the next Summer Olympics, we need this college-to-Olympics pipeline more than ever.

Protecting the future of gymnastics and college sports as a whole requires a greater sense of urgency from public officials. Courts have issued rulings on NIL guardrails as a temporary fix, but Congress needs to act to establish permanent national standards. As the chair of the Big 12’s LIFT (Leadership, Innovation, Future, Teams) program, I advocate on behalf of thousands of student-athletes like me, and the only solution that secures the future of all college sports is the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act.

In addition to establishing national NIL rules, the bill would protect sports programs like mine by mandating at least 16 varsity sports per institution. It also invests in the well-being of student-athletes, ensuring they can thrive beyond sports. If I were to receive a sports-related injury, for example, the bill would guarantee medical care, with no out-of-pocket costs, up to three years after graduation. And in terms of academics and life skills, it provides degree completion programs and counseling on financial literacy and career readiness.

The SCORE Act also reaffirms that college athletes want to study and compete, not work as employees of their institutions. An employment model for college sports threatens to upend coach-player relationships, bankrupt smaller sports programs, and diminish the value of academic achievements. I want my coaches focused on training and mentoring us, not dealing with payroll, HR policies, and administrative tasks.

The purpose of college sports extends beyond competing in athletics. It involves developing young Americans in leadership, discipline, and education. Maintaining this identity should unite us all as Americans and transcend party lines. Let’s renew college sports’ mission by passing the SCORE Act.