Why It Matters

The Southeastern Conference has entered the lobbying arena with a new registration filed in April 2026, hiring Klein/Johnson Group to represent its interests on Capitol Hill. The move comes as Congress grapples with sweeping college sports reform proposals that could reshape how the nation's largest athletic conferences operate.

The SEC's decision to hire Klein/Johnson Group represents a notable escalation in the conference's engagement with federal policymakers on issues affecting collegiate athletics and labor matters. This represents a departure from SEC's previous approaches and indicates it views current congressional activity as requiring sustained, professional advocacy.

Multiple bills addressing college sports governance have advanced through Congress in recent months, with some specifically naming or targeting the SEC's competitive advantages. By establishing a formal lobbying presence, the conference is positioning itself to directly shape negotiations around national Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules, transfer portal standards, and media rights frameworks that could determine its financial future.

The Klein/Johnson Group team assigned to the SEC lobbying registration filing brings substantial Capitol Hill experience. The firm deployed nine principal lobbyists to handle the account, including co-founders Izzy Klein and Matt Johnson. Several team members carry relevant prior experience: Ian Rayder worked on the House Appropriations Committee, Casey Higgins has Ways and Means Committee background, and Bradley Hayes previously served on the Senate Judiciary Committee. These connections span both parties, with team members having worked for Republican senators John Cornyn and Tommy Tuberville, as well as Democrats including Edward Markey, Gary Peters, and Angela Alsobrooks.

By the Numbers

The NCAA lobbying filing registered zero dollars in reported expenses for the initial 2026 activity year, though this reflects only the registration period from April 12 through the end of the fiscal year. The Southeastern Conference lobbying disclosure was filed on June 15, covering only the period from June 15, 2025 through that date.

The team composition reveals a balanced approach across institutional relationships. Kelli Briggs brings prior experience with Rep. Patrick Tiberi, while Matt Johnson's background includes work for Sen. John Cornyn. Ian Rayder previously served on the House Appropriations Committee during the 113th and 114th Congresses. Casey Higgins worked on the House Ways and Means Committee in the 113th and 114th Congresses. Zephranie Buetow has connections to Sen. Gary Peters and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. Bradley Hayes previously worked for Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Sen. Jeff Sessions, and served on the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 112th Congress.

The Agenda

The SEC lobbying registration filing identifies two primary issue areas, Sports/Athletics and Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace matters. The college sports lobbying effort does not specify particular bills in the initial registration, but the timing and issue areas align directly with multiple legislative proposals advancing through Congress.

The most prominent of these is the Protect College Sports Act, introduced by Senators Coons, Cruz, Cantwell, and Schmitt on May 26. The bill would create national NIL rules, transfer portal standards, eligibility rules, scholarship protections, and media rights pooling frameworks. It mandates national transfer rules allowing one free undergraduate transfer and eligibility rules based on a five-in-five standard. Notably, the legislation also prohibits "Super League Consolidation," language that appears directed at preventing further conference realignment that could benefit the SEC.

Other relevant proposals include the HUSTLE Act, which would create tax-advantaged NIL investment accounts for student athletes and crack down on unscrupulous agents. The Student-Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act would codify athletes' rights, expand revenue for all schools, and support women's and Olympic sports. The No Foreign NIL Funds Act, introduced February 10, would prohibit foreign investment in collegiate NIL agreements and athletics revenue streams.

Broader Context

The SEC's decision to hire Klein/Johnson Group reflects mounting congressional pressure on major college sports conferences. Multiple lawmakers have publicly criticized the competitive advantages the SEC has accumulated through media rights deals and conference expansion.

Senator Maria Cantwell explicitly named the SEC in opposition to the SCORE Act on December 2, 2025, characterizing the conference as part of a "Power 2" alongside the Big Ten that has created massive financial gaps with other institutions. She released a September report documenting how "skyrocketing media rights payments have exacerbated a massive financial gap between traditional power conferences, especially the new Power 2 — the SEC and Big Ten — and everyone else."

Senator Tommy Tuberville, for whom Klein/Johnson lobbyist Bradley Hayes previously worked, has emerged as a key voice on college sports reform. Tuberville called for action on NIL standards on August 13, 2025, and urged Congress to act on broader college sports reform on December 11, 2025, warning that "college sports as we know them are lost forever" without action. He introduced the Student-Athlete Act as part of these broader reform efforts.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey offered support for the HUSTLE Act on December 8, 2025, positioning the conference as willing to engage with legislative solutions. However, other congressional voices have expressed skepticism about proposals that might benefit the SEC's competitive position.

Between The Lines

The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on the Protect College Sports Act on June 4, featuring testimony from former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould, Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua, and WVU President Emeritus Gordon Gee. Saban stated that "Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has become pay-for-play," framing the issue in terms likely to resonate with reform-minded lawmakers.

Representative Michael Baumgartner introduced a House companion to the Protect College Sports Act on the same day, June 4, indicating bipartisan interest in the measure. Senator Capito co-sponsored the Senate version, broadening its political coalition.

Earlier congressional activity included opposition from multiple senators. [GAP] On October 23, 2025, Senators Murphy, Blumenthal, Sanders, and Booker opposed the SCORE Act's antitrust exemption for the NCAA. Representative Haley Stevens sent a letter to the Big Ten Commissioner on November 26, 2025, warning against selling a 10% media rights stake. On January 15, Representatives Stevens and Baumgartner sent a bipartisan letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker naming the SEC as one of the conferences receiving private equity outreach.

Competitive Landscape

The college sports lobbying space includes multiple institutional players. The Pac-12 Commissioner appeared before Congress to present an alternative perspective to the SEC's position. Various smaller conferences and schools have engaged in advocacy, though specific lobbying registrations for competing entities are not detailed in the available SEC lobbying registration filing materials.

The legislative environment suggests the SEC faces significant headwinds. Multiple bills propose structural changes that could reduce the conference's competitive and financial advantages, particularly provisions around media rights pooling and transfer portal restrictions.

The Bottom Line

The Southeastern Conference's hiring of Klein/Johnson Group marks a turning point in how major athletic conferences engage with federal policymakers. The SEC lobbying registration filing demonstrates that the conference recognizes current congressional activity as a direct threat requiring sustained professional advocacy.

The team assembled brings relevant experience across both chambers and both parties, suggesting the SEC aims for broad engagement rather than partisan advocacy. However, the legislative landscape presents substantial challenges. Multiple bills advancing through Congress contain provisions specifically designed to constrain the SEC's competitive advantages, and key lawmakers have publicly criticized the conference's market dominance.

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