With college sports in full swing nationwide, millions of Americans are tuning in to cheer for their favorite teams. Amid the excitement, a critical battle is being fought off the field — one that could shape the future of college sports.

The landscape of college athletics has changed dramatically since student-athletes were allowed to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL). This reform has empowered young athletes, granting them some control over their financial futures. As with any significant change, unintended consequences have surfaced.

States quickly rushed to pass NIL laws, creating a confusing and inconsistent web of rules. Meanwhile, student-athletes and their respective colleges, universities and conferences have been scrambling to keep up, attempting to navigate laws that vary from state to state. Athletic departments have also been forced to allocate resources to ensure compliance with these varying regulations, diverting attention from their mission of developing student-athletes.

The implications extend far beyond the revenue-generating sports like football and basketball. The other athletic programs that rely on these budgets and do not generate revenue could be subject to the chopping block, including many women’s sports and sports that feed into our Olympics pipeline. As a result, this could wipe out opportunities for thousands of young athletes who rely on scholarships to pursue their dreams.

At the same time, an even more disruptive issue is looming. The push to classify student-athletes as employees is gaining traction, and the consequences of such a move would be far-reaching. It would fundamentally change the nature of college sports, shifting the focus away from education and toward a more transactional model.

Colleges and universities exist to educate, and athletics have long been a path for students to access that education. Turning athletes into employees would jeopardize that model.

This is where Congress must come in. The current patchwork of state NIL laws is unsustainable, and the looming threat of employment classification could dismantle college sports as we know them. Only federal legislation can bring order to this chaos. A national NIL standard would provide clarity for athletes and universities, ensuring that everyone has access to the same opportunities, no matter where they go to school.

If Congress fails to act, the consequences could be severe. New lawsuits will continue, entire sports programs could be cut, and countless young athletes — many of whom rely on sports to access higher education — will lose their chance at college.

Passing a comprehensive bill that sets a national NIL standard and safeguards athletes from employment classification is the only way forward.

If Congress doesn’t act soon, the vibrant, diverse world of college sports could be forever changed — and not for the better. The future of college sports hangs in the balance, and it is up to lawmakers to protect it.

Nolan Kohorst is a former UNLV football athlete and is a social studies teacher in Nevada/InsideSources