Memphis football's Charles Huff warns Congress of 'completely broken' system

Memphis football coach Charles Huff painted a piercingly bleak picture of the future of college sports without successful congressional intervention during an appearance June 10 in Washington, D.C.

Huff, who was hired by the Tigers in December 2025, was one of several NCAA coaches, administrators and athletes who met on Capitol Hill with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), co-authors of the Protect College Sports Act, to voice support for the proposed legislation.

“This is going to affect the nation, it’s not just going to affect our student-athletes,” he said. “We need you guys to continue to carry this torch, please.”

Huff — who also has served as head coach at Southern Miss and Marshall — spoke frankly and with acute clarity.

“Let me say this: College athletics is one of the very few things left in our world that brings cultures together, brings race, creed, gender,” he said. “Whether it’s 100,000 people in a stadium or 100 people on the edge of a pool for 2½ hours, or whatever the game time is — we all come together. And I think a lot of people who have nothing to do with college athletics, their lives are going to change.

A powerful closing statement from @MemphisFB Head Coach @CoachHuff in Washington DC today with Senators Cruz and Cantwell on the Protect College Sports Act👏#BuiltToRise x @TigersAthleticspic.twitter.com/Vd7sCiE9KJ

— The American (@American_Conf) June 10, 2026