Score ACT stalls as support collapses for college sports reform, making UK’s JMI deal look worse and worse

The federal legislation Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart hoped would stabilize the future of college sports is now dead for the moment.

The SCORE Act, once viewed as the most viable path toward national regulation of NIL, revenue sharing, and athlete protections, was pulled from the U.S. House floor just hours before a scheduled vote after support collapsed on both sides of the aisle.

Back in September, Barnhart sent a passionate letter to fans urging them to push Congress to pass the bill. He described the SCORE Act as “critical to the stability of college athletics,” arguing that a national framework was the only way to preserve competitive balance, protect Olympic and women’s sports, and ensure athletes remain students and not employees. The legislation promised guaranteed scholarships, improved medical coverage, expanded mental-health resources, and degree-completion opportunities. It also aligned closely with Kentucky’s future NIL model under its long-term partnership with JMI, which aims to centralize third-party deals through the BBNIL Suite.

Then, as the vote approached, bipartisan criticism mounted. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) blasted the bill as “not ready for prime time,” citing concerns over athlete restrictions and the rushed process. The Congressional Black Caucus and several Democrats voiced similar objections, arguing the measure favored the NCAA and power conferences at the expense of players.

Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) was even more direct, calling the SCORE Act “a gift to the NCAA” and celebrating its withdrawal as a win for athlete rights.

Despite years of lobbying from college sports’ most powerful institutions, Congress remains sharply divided on how to regulate the rapidly changing landscape. For now, Barnhart’s push for federal standardization will have to wait, leaving college athletics as unsettled as ever, while UK’s deal with JMI continues to look worse by the day, even if Barnhart would have you believe otherwise.