Tennessee has passed a new law that could let its universities sidestep upcoming national rules on college sports, including how athletes get paid and how schools are punished.
The law is a direct response to a proposed agreement tied to the House antitrust settlement, which would create a powerful new enforcement group called the College Sports Commission, replacing much of the NCAA’s authority.
Under the plan, schools would have to follow the new rules or risk being kicked out of major conferences. But Tennessee’s law says state schools can’t be penalized for following state law, setting up a legal showdown if the national deal is approved.
