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Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Washington, ripped Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti Wednesday after a House vote on the SCORE Act was delayed.
The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act is federal lawmakers’ attempt to regulate name, image and likeness agreements in collegiate athletics. The bill passed a procedural vote to bring it to the floor, but the final vote was canceled two hours before it was due to take place.
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Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at Lucas Oil Stadium, July 23, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Baumgartner is one of the House Republicans who is not on board with the SCORE Act. He wrote on X that the bill does not treat athletes across all sports equally, does not prohibit private equity from entering college sports, does not limit coaching salaries, does not fix the Wild West of the NIL and the transfer portal, does not end widespread realignment, nor does it put the right people in charge of making decisions that would affect the entire landscape of college sports.
“If the Big 10 commissioner would spend LESS money trying to buy votes from DC lobbyists and make MORE of an effort to STOP being a bully — then Congress could move forward with passing sensible legislation to fix college sports,” he added.
He agreed with Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, in 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 OVER 20 CONSERVATIVE GROUPS AS ZERO REFORM IS FIGHTED
“Congress should (form) a Select Committee on College Sports to address many of the legitimate issues raised below,” Baumgartner wrote on X, pointing to Roy’s concerns. “One of the problems this year is that 4 committees have jurisdiction over the issue, and theirs is not the coordinated focus needed to create a need for a bipartisan solution. Ultimately, that will also require the president’s involvement (precedent – Teddy Roosevelt helped Congress save college football 100 years ago).”
Pakinomist Digital reached out to the Big Ten for comment.
The White House approved the action Tuesday, but Roy voted with Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Florida, and Scott Perry, R-Pennsylvania, joined with Democrats to keep the act 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)
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The SCORE Act would grant 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. It prohibits schools from using tuition fees to fund NIL payments. Republicans could try to vote on the law as early as Thursday.
