NCAA Willing To Ban California Colleges From Competition Over New Bill

If you haven’t heard, the NCAA has formed an exploratory committee to research and look into college athletes being compensated from their name, image and likeness. There has been no update on their findings thus far and there won’t be one until August when the initial update is is provided and then in October when the final report of their findings is released. I’m just hoping this means the return of NCAA Football video games. But in all actuality, nothing is likely to come of it because the logistics of trying to pay college athletes would be an absolute nightmare and there would be no way to keep a level playing field if they did allow it. So while we are a few months away from the NCAA releasing any kind of update, that hasn’t stopped the state of California trying pushing through a bill in favor of allowing college athletes to get paid on their likeness.

Photo Credit: ABC

The bill itself hasn’t been become official yet as it has 2 more steps to pass but all signs are pointing that way. The proposal passed the California senate by 31-4 in May and is scheduled to appear in front of a California State Committee tomorrow. If the bill continues after that it’s final stop will be at California’s Higher Education Committee. If the bill is passed into law it will allow California college athletes to make money from their likeness starting in 2023. While this is an issue that would be 4 years away, it could be a very big one at that. NCAA President Mark Emmert has heavily opposed the bill and has even threatened the state that should the bill be passed it could put California college’s at jeopardy of being banned from national championships and the hosting of national championships. So far the NCAA President’s threats have done little to thwart the bill and with it expecting to pass, this whole paying college athletes could finally come to a head. Would this bill force the NCAA to take a different stance on the issue or would the NCAA actually ban the state of California from competitions? College athletics are changing for better or worse(I’m going with worse) and it’s going to be an interesting few years.