Power 4 Conferences Unite in Washington: Pushing for Federal NIL Legislation Amid Landmark NCAA Settlement

Historic Gathering on Capitol Hill
Top executives from the NCAA's Power 4 conferences—Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, SEC’s Greg Sankey, ACC’s Jim Phillips, and Big 12’s Brett Yormark—joined university presidents, athletic directors, and prominent coaches like Auburn’s Bruce Pearl and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian in Washington D.C. Their mission: advocate for federal Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation amid escalating calls for reform in college sports governance.

A Defining Moment for College Athletics
The summit coincided with critical developments:

• House Settlement Progress: A federal court hearing in Oakland advanced the NCAA’s proposed $2.8 billion settlement to compensate athletes.
• Transfer Portal Timing: The lobbying push preceded the spring transfer window opening, highlighting urgency to establish roster stability rules.

Key Quotes from Commissioners

• Jim Phillips (ACC): "This is a modernization of college sports... We’re stewards of its future."
• Greg Sankey (SEC): "The nexus overdue settlements requires coordinated Congressional action."
• Brett Yormark (Big 12): "Time isn’t on our side—swift federal is essential.

Behind the Scenes
Attendees capped the day with a panel discussion at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, emphasizing bipartisan outreach:

• Previous lobbying efforts lacked this scale of conference alignment.
• Coaches and athletes amplified the message, stressing the need for national standards.

What’s Next?
With the NCAA settlement awaiting final approval, the Power 4’s unified front signals a turning point. Observers note federal action drafting establish rules for:

• Revenue sharing frameworks
• NIL transparency
• Athlete employment status

The coming months could reshape collegiate sports permanently.