Knight Commission Session at 2026 NCAA Convention

General News, Meetings and Events

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics presented a session at the 2026 NCAA Convention, “Congress and College Sports: Pending Legislation and Lingering Questions” at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Oxon Hill, Maryland.

PANELISTS

  • Pam Bernard, Knight Commission Co-Chair; Vice President and General Counsel, emerita, Duke University
  • Gabe Feldman, Director, Tulane University Sports Law Program; Knight Commission Legal Consultant
  • David L. Foster, Of Counsel, Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs
  • Rob Mangas, Shareholder, Government Law and Policy Group, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  • Amy Privette Perko, Knight Commission CEO
  • Peyton Barish, Knight Commission Coordinator of Special Projects and Policy

SESSION RESOURCES



large group of people viewing and listening to a presentation
Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics session “Congress and College Sports:

Pending Legislation and Lingering Questions” at 2026 NCAA Convention


KEY QUOTES FROM JAN. 14 SESSION AT NCAA CONVENTION


Rob Mangas, Shareholder, Government Policy and Law Group, Greenberg Traurig, LLP




    

  1. On the possibility of federal legislation for college sports: “I say yes, it can be done. In my mind, there are a lot of issues that can be compromised here because there are a lot of commonalities with the bills on different topics, but that negotiation is going to take a lot of work.”
    2. 

  2. On whether there is something missing from the proposals: “If there’s a proposal that adds more votes than it loses, it’s worth discussing. But the process of combining these bills, narrowing the scope of issues, that really has to take place if (there is) a realistic chance of doing something.”
    3. 



David L. Foster, Former Deputy General Counsel, National Basketball Players Association


    

  1. On potential college agent regulation to recognize agent certification through existing pro sports certification systems: “If you have some (agents) that have already gone through the process of becoming MLBPA certified, NFLPA certified, NBPA certified, NHLPA certified, I think there should be a benefit for that.”
    2. 

  2. When asked what features of agent regulations he preferred from the proposed bills, Foster referenced a key feature of the SCORE Act that “only places the (agent) fee limits on the part of the contract that deals with the revenue sharing portion of the negotiation (between the team and athlete) and leaves the marketing contracts and the fees associated to the market. That more closely mimics what’s already happening (in pro sports).”
    3. 



Gabe Feldman, Director, Tulane University Sports Law Program; Knight Commission Legal Consultant




    

  1. On the potential for antitrust protection for the NCAA in legislation: “There is a way to get stability without that broad antitrust exemption. You just can be more narrowly focused on the particular rule you want to implement.”
    2. 

  2. On the SCORE Act’s definition of the governing entities that could receive an antitrust exemption: “(T)he way it defines an ‘Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Association’ could be read to include two conferences that split off and agree to their own rules. So just something to note that if we take the SCORE Act and its definition and its exemption broadly, it might provide protection for a breakaway super conference that forms, not just to the entire NCAA.”
    3. 

  3. On what’s missing from proposed legislation to protect funding for opportunities, gender equity and education: “There’s been more discussion about not only imposing cost controls on athlete compensation but imposing cost controls across the board… Maybe the limit should not just be on the athletes. Maybe we should think about the total amount that is being spent on college athletics, coaches, administrators, facilities.”
    4. 





Media Inquiries: JoJo Rinebold: jojo@rineboldresults.com


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About the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics

The Knight Commission, founded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in 1989, is an independent group that leads transformational change to prioritize college athletes’ education, health, safety, and success. The Commission has a legacy of influencing NCAA policies that have helped propel record-high graduation rates of Division I athletes. The Commission’s ongoing efforts focus on governance, equity, and financial reforms, as well as providing education on the changing landscape of college sports. For more, visit knightcommission.org.




About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.