Lesniak: NIL Chaos Is Hurting College Sports—Congress Must Pass the SCORE Act

TRENTON, NJ – Former New Jersey State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak today called on New Jersey’s congressional delegation to support the SCORE Act, warning that the current name, image, and likeness (NIL) free-for-all is creating chaos that is undermining college athletics—including programs like Rutgers University from  competing on the national stage.

“Rutgers is investing heavily to compete in the Big Ten the right way—through development, academics, and integrity,” Lesniak said. “But the current NIL system rewards chaos. Athletes are jumping from college to college to college chasing better deals leading to rosters turning over constantly. Programs like Rutgers are forced to compete in an unregulated marketplace with no national rules.”

Lesniak said the combination of the transfer portal and unregulated NIL money has effectively turned college sports into a year-round free-agency system, favoring the wealthiest programs and the most aggressive intermediaries—not student-athletes or institutions committed to education.

“This isn’t what college sports were supposed to be,” Lesniak said. “When players are encouraged to move every year for the next deal, academic continuity suffers, team chemistry disappears, and the bond between athletes, schools, and fans erodes.

The SCORE Act would establish uniform national standards for NIL agreements, promote transparency and protect athletes from exploitation. The goal is to restore stability and competitive balance—while preserving athletes’ right to earn fair compensation.

“This is not about rolling back NIL,” Lesniak emphasized. “It’s about bringing order to a system that has spun out of control and ensuring that athletes aren’t treated like disposable assets in a bidding war.”

Lesniak urged New Jersey’s U.S. Senators and Representatives to stand up for Rutgers, New Jersey student-athletes, and the future of college sports by publicly supporting the SCORE Act.