The White House is stepping into the college sports arena with a game-changing proposal that could reshape the landscape for players, coaches, and fans alike. A draft document obtained by CBS Sports reveals the most concrete federal reform plan yet for college athletics, including a salary cap for coaches, a new Group of Six playoff format, and a push to shield the NCAA from antitrust lawsuits. These ideas, if implemented, would mark the biggest government intervention into college sports in history.

The preliminary recommendations, circulated within President Donald Trump's College Sports Reform Committee, are labeled as "discussion purposes only" for now. The committee is actively seeking input from athletes and industry insiders before moving toward formal policy. But the vision is already clear: a three-phase overhaul designed to bring stability to a system that has been rocked by conference realignment, name-image-likeness debates, and legal challenges.

At the heart of the plan is a new College Sports Reform Task Force, which would operate within the existing NCAA structure. This task force would have limited antitrust exemptions and the authority to override state laws—a bold move that could unify the current patchwork of regulations. The task force would run for two years, and any rules it sets during that time would carry permanent antitrust protection, even after the body dissolves. Congress would keep a watchful eye over the process.

Phase 1 is where the most consequential ideas live. The document calls for salary caps for coaches and administrators, a direct intervention into the skyrocketing pay that has become a flashpoint in college sports. It also proposes the creation of a Group of Six playoff, which would give smaller conferences a clearer path to the postseason—a move that could energize fan bases and level the playing field.

But none of these ideas work without Congressional action. The entire plan hinges on lawmakers passing legislation to shield the NCAA from antitrust lawsuits, a step that would protect the new rules from legal challenges that have plagued previous reforms. The committee is pushing for this legislation to be adopted before Congress's summer recess, even if it doesn't perfectly align with the recommendations in the memo.

The long-gestating SCORE Act is expected to hit the House floor the week of May 18, but leaders admit the bill is at least half a dozen votes short of passing the Senate. Time is ticking, and the committee is banking on a sense of urgency to get the job done.

Phase 2 focuses on media rights reform, aiming to create a more equitable revenue-sharing model that could help smaller programs compete with the powerhouses. Phase 3 tackles permanent governance, setting up a lasting structure that could weather future storms. For now, the committee is laser-focused on Phase 1, where the most dramatic changes could take hold.

For fans and athletes, this proposal represents a potential turning point. Whether it's capping coach salaries, expanding the playoff, or giving the NCAA a legal shield, the White House is signaling that the era of unregulated college sports may be coming to an end. As the committee gathers feedback and Congress debates the SCORE Act, the future of the game hangs in the balance.