WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission is asking 20 universities with Division I sports programs whether agents working with their athletes are following a federal law tied to sports-agent conduct.

The FTC’s inquiry, announced Monday, began with sending letters to schools seeking responses by March 23 tied to compliance with the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act that was enacted in 2004. The FTC didn’t reveal which schools had been contacted.

Christopher Mufarrige, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement that the inquiry “is aimed at better understanding whether sports agents are complying with the law and the degree to which student athletes are being protected.”

The letters seek information dating back to July 1, 2021, coinciding with athletes being allowed to profit from their fame through name, image and likeness rules. Requested information includes when athletes entered into a contract, when the school was notified by the agent of that deal, whether there had been any complaints about an agent and copies of agency contracts with athletes’ personal information redacted.

The sports agent act is a federal law that prohibits agents from recruiting an athlete by providing false or misleading information or providing anything of value to the athlete before entering a contract. There is also the state-level Uniform Athlete Agent Act that offers similar requirements in at least 40 states and other jurisdictions.

The structure and penalties can vary by state. Cases are difficult to prosecute and aren’t frequently pursued. Notably, officials in North Carolina spent years pursuing cases under the state-level act against a former NFL agent and five others tied to providing improper benefits to Tar Heels football players dating to 2010.

Charges were first filed in 2013. Most cases were resolved either through dismissals or deals with prosecutors. One reached trial in 2020, ending in a mistrial.

Flag football has been added to the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program and four other women’s sports were elevated to championship status, the NCAA announced Friday.

Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing sports at the youth, high school and collegiate levels and will debut as an Olympic sport for men and women in 2028.

There were about 40 NCAA schools with women’s flag football teams in 2025, and the organization projected that 60 could be competing this spring.

Nebraska on Friday announced that it would be the first power-conference school to add flag football as a varsity women’s sport, with competition beginning in the spring of 2028.

The new championship sports are acrobatics and tumbling, stunt, Division II bowling and Division III women’s wrestling.

“This moment reflects the growth of college sports, as schools continue to provide a record number of scholarships and opportunities across the NCAA,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said. “By expanding championship opportunities, we celebrate the remarkable momentum of women’s sports, ensuring more student-athletes have the chance to compete for national titles, represent their institutions and inspire future generations.”

To become a championship sport, a minimum of 40 schools must sponsor it at the varsity level and meet contest and participation requirements.

At Nebraska, women’s flag football would be the first sport added since beach volleyball in 2013. The season will run from January to May. Nebraska will immediately begin a coaching search and plans to have a roster of 20-25 players.