NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., criticized Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti on Wednesday after a vote on the SCORE Act in the House of Representatives was delayed.
The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Supports (SCORE) Act is an attempt by federal lawmakers to regulate name, image and likeness agreements in college athletics. The bill passed a procedural vote to bring it to the House floor, but the final vote was canceled two hours earlier than scheduled.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 23, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Baumgartner is one of the House Republicans who disagrees with the SCORE Act. He wrote in
“If the Big 10 Commissioner spent LESS money trying to buy votes with DC lobbyists and made MORE efforts to STOP being a bully, then Congress could still pass some reasonable legislation to fix college sports,” he added.
He agreed with Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, that the bill is “not ready for prime time.”
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Nov. 29, 2025. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
SCORE ACT RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM MORE THAN 20 CONSERVATIVE GROUPS AS FIGHT OVER NIL REFORM ACCELERATES
“Congress should (form) a select committee on college sports to untangle many of the legitimate issues raised below,” Baumgartner wrote in X noting Roy’s concerns. “One of the problems this year is that four committees have jurisdiction over the issue and do not have the coordinated approach necessary to create a bipartisan solution. Ultimately, it will also require the president’s involvement (precedent: Teddy Roosevelt helped Congress save college football 100 years ago).”
Pak Gazette Digital has reached out to the Big Ten for comment.
The White House endorsed the bill Tuesday, but Roy, along with Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Scott Perry, R-Pa., voted with Democrats to keep the bill off the floor.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on October 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
The SCORE Act would give the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption in hopes of protecting the NCAA from potential lawsuits over eligibility rules and would prohibit athletes from becoming employees of their schools. Prohibits schools from using student fees to fund NIL payments. Republicans could try to vote on the bill as early as Thursday.
