Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua Urges Action to Preserve College Sports
On Wednesday, Pete Bevacqua, Notre Dame’s Director of Athletics, took the floor before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. He made a passionate case for The Protect College Sports Act.
Bevacqua stressed how badly college athletics needs a federal framework to stay afloat. Universities face mounting financial pressure as competition costs spiral out of control.
He sounded the alarm about college football turning into a “super league” that mirrors the NFL. If that happens, he warned, the unique spirit of college football could vanish, and only a handful of schools would dominate the landscape.
Bevacqua argued that this scenario would leave most schools in the dust. Fans and athletes would lose what makes college football special—seems like a real risk, honestly.
The Risks of a “Super League” in College Football
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He didn’t sugarcoat his concerns about a “super league.” Bevacqua believes it would create a “mini-NFL” and sideline everyone except the biggest programs.
That kind of shift would undermine the diversity and excitement that draws so many people to college football in the first place.
Financial Implications and Escalating Roster Fees
Skyrocketing roster fees worry Bevacqua deeply. He pointed out that rising costs might force schools to pour all their resources into football.
That means women’s and Olympic sports would get left behind. Even big-name universities would have a tough time keeping their athletic programs balanced.
Impact on Women’s and Olympic Sports
Bevacqua’s worries go way past football. Notre Dame has 25 other teams—13 for men, 13 for women—and they’re feeling the squeeze too.
Many of these teams have already seen their budgets slashed this year. Without new laws in place, Bevacqua thinks Olympic and women’s sports could be in even more trouble soon.
The House v. NCAA Settlement
The House v. NCAA settlement capped revenue sharing for college athletes at $20.5 million per school for the 2025-26 academic year. The cap will increase by 4% over the next two years, then get reviewed again.
But Bevacqua called the cap a “fallacy.” Schools are getting around it using third-party Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which can be pretty murky and add to the chaos.
Challenges with the Current Cap and NIL Deals
He explained that the real financial picture includes both the capped dollars and these third-party NIL deals. Bevacqua thinks this setup gets abused way too often.
If schools gave more direct financial support to student-athletes from the cap, he believes it could help steady the system and actually support the student-athlete experience.
The Role of the College Sports Commission
The College Sports Commission was set up by major conferences as an independent regulator, but it’s struggled to keep spending in check. According to USA Today’s John Brice, more than a dozen schools have blown past $40 million in football roster spending.
Bevacqua wants The Protect College Sports Act to spell out, in no uncertain terms, that schools must invest in all sports—not just football. That seems pretty reasonable, right?
Proposed Solutions for Stability
To tackle these problems, Bevacqua tossed out a few ideas. He’d like to see a realistic cap on spending, with any extra cash flowing straight into Olympic and women’s sports.
He thinks this approach could finally bring some financial certainty and keep these programs alive.
Additional Measures in The Protect College Sports Act
Bevacqua also backs other parts of The Protect College Sports Act, including:
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- A 5% cap on agent fees
- A one-time transfer policy
- Expanded health and medical benefits for athletes
Conclusion
Bevacqua stressed how urgent these measures are. Without quick action, he warned, women’s and Olympic sports could stay at risk.
He pushed for protecting scholarships and extending medical insurance. He also called for better regulation of agent activities to help keep the student-athlete experience intact.
Pete Bevacqua made a strong case for The Protect College Sports Act during his testimony. He pointed out real worries about college athletics’ financial future, especially with rising roster fees and the threat of a “super league” in college football.
These problems, he said, make it feel like lawmakers need to step in now. The act’s goal is to protect all sports programs and keep the spirit of college athletics alive.
Want the whole story on Bevacqua’s testimony and the push to safeguard college sports? You can check out the full article on College Net Worth.