White House Proposes Major Overhaul of College Sports with Salary Caps, Playoff Expansion, and Antitrust Protections A draft document obtained by CBS Sports outlines the most comprehensive federal plan yet to reform college athletics, including proposals to cap coaches' salaries, establish a new playoff system for the Group of Six conferences, and shield the NCAA from antitrust litigation. The White House’s College Sports Reform Committee, led by President Donald Trump, has circulated the recommendations for discussion, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address financial and legal challenges facing college sports. The plan, which requires congressional approval, aims to stabilize the system, modernize media rights, and create a permanent governing structure. The draft, reviewed by CBS Sports, outlines a three-phase approach to reform. The first phase focuses on immediate measures, including salary caps for coaches and administrators, which would mark the first direct federal intervention into athletic department spending. Rising costs in college athletics have led some programs to cut non-revenue sports and reduce staff, while coaches’ salaries have reached record highs. At least 13 major football coaches are expected to earn over $10 million next season. The proposal also bans the use of NIL (name, image, likeness) funds to circumvent salary caps, addressing concerns about how schools are redirecting revenue to supplement the $20.5 million allowed for player compensation under the House v. NCAA settlement. Another key element of Phase 1 is the creation of a separate playoff for the Group of Six conferences, which would allow these schools to compete for a national championship without relying on the College Football Playoff (CFP).#white_house #ncaa #college_football_playoff #college_sports_reform_committee #cody_campbell
