In the world of college sports, where tradition meets ambition, there’s a storm brewing that’s more chaotic than a college football game on a Saturday afternoon. The proposed legislation aimed at creating a national standard for athlete compensation is a topic so dense it could challenge even the brightest students in those Ivy League schools. But as lawmakers head home for recess, the chaos in the realm of intercollegiate athletics continues to swirl like a wild tornado.

The heart of this legislative conundrum revolves around compensation for athletes, which includes payment for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Given the arms race in college sports, where ginormous sums are tossed around like confetti, it’s not difficult to see why getting this bill over the line is proving tricky. Athletes would also be limited to one transfer without the risk of losing eligibility, which is akin to keeping those talented players from hopping around like they’re playing musical chairs.

Concern is growing over the potential impact this legislation might have on women’s athletics and smaller sports programs. With the bulk of funding coming from college football, and to a lesser extent basketball, there’s a real fear these other sports could be left sidelined unless Congress decides to step in. Conservatives are wary that the bill doesn’t do enough to protect fair competition and keep men out of women’s sports, suggesting this legislation might’ve been brainstormed over a long-winded weekend retreat attended only by trial lawyers.

While President Trump made a valiant attempt to rally senators to stick around in Washington until this bill was passed, they departed on vacation without even casting an expected test vote. Some skeptics have accused those backing the legislation of spinning a web of deceit and conveniently leaving out the perspectives of black athletes, according to the Congressional Black Caucus. The absence of this critical input leaves this bill open to more scrutiny than a referee’s call in the last seconds of a tied game.

Now, with lawmakers on break, the momentum of this legislation resembles that of a car stuck in neutral on a steep incline. President Trump’s demand for diligence has seemingly come to naught, with Senate action slowing to a crawl. One can hope that when Congress finally decides to address this pressing matter, they’ll have more success than a befuddled referee attempting to unravel this tangled mess. Until then, college sports remain in limbo, awaiting a resolution to this legislative game that’s more contentious than any rivalry on the field.