U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has raised questions about the fairness of NCAA eligibility rules that allow older and often international student-athletes to compete against younger American athletes. Cassidy’s concerns focus on the competitive advantage these athletes may have due to delayed enrollment and greater pre-college experience.
According to Cassidy, “These data underscore my concern that age and prior competition experience can create competitive imbalances for American student-athletes—and for traditional-age student-athletes of all nationalities—who are navigating college sports for the first time.” He added, “My goal is ensuring that student recruits and families can rely on clear and enforceable policies that protect fairness in competition across sports and divisions.”
In a letter addressed to NCAA President Charlie Baker, Cassidy cited public reports and NCAA research indicating that international student-athletes make up a significant share of first-year rosters in certain Division I sports. For example, international athletes represent 61-64% of tennis, 38-41% of ice hockey, and 26-34% of golf first-year rosters.
Cassidy acknowledged that NCAA bylaws already address issues related to amateurism and delayed enrollment, and that further changes to eligibility rules are being considered. He requested detailed data on the age and scholarship status of first-year student-athletes across divisions and sports for the past five academic years. He also asked for a summary of any policy changes under consideration and information on recent guidance provided to institutions and recruits regarding age-related eligibility.
Cassidy emphasized the Committee’s aim: “The Committee’s goal is to ensure that all student-athletes—American and international alike— can compete fairly.”
The letter requests a response and data from the NCAA by November 4, 2025.
For further updates from the HELP Committee Republicans, information is available on their website and Twitter account @GOPHELP.
