The Senate approved a bipartisan bill on Monday night that grants the NCAA and its member conferences the authority to enforce uniform national rules on college athletics. The bill passed with a vote of 77 to 22 and will move to the House in November, pending approval before being sent to President Trump for his signature.
The Protect College Sports Act, co-authored by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), provides the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption to create standardized rules regarding athlete eligibility, limit conference realignment, and prevent the establishment of a super league that would replace NCAA subdivisions.
This legislation aims to codify the $2.8 billion antitrust settlement from the House vs. NCAA case, which permitted Division 1 schools to share revenue with current players and compensate past players. The new bill proposes to increase the revenue-sharing cap to approximately $50 million per school from the previous cap of $21.5 million, with a stricter enforcement model.
Under current Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, wealthier schools have circumvented the $21.5 million cap through corporate sponsorships and endorsements. The new bill would enable the NCAA to address attempts to bypass this limit by including booster or affiliated-entity funds in total revenue-sharing calculations, while also providing an additional $27 million in funding to retain current athletes.
A potential outcome of the bill is that prominent programs may lose their ability to attract top college athletes with large compensation offers, which could allow smaller programs to compete more effectively under NCAA regulations.
The NCAA and its affiliates have invested tens of millions of dollars lobbying for congressional intervention regarding its rule-making authority over the past seven years. Supporters, including Cruz, argue that the bill would establish order and consistent regulations in college sports. Cruz stated, "If we’re going to be having a national competition … it is only Congress that can establish a clear and enforceable legal rule book."
Prominent figures in college sports, such as former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and ESPN analyst Pat McAfee, have publicly supported the bill, with Saban emphasizing the need for Congress to create a national framework to enforce fair rules.
Opposition to the bill includes some players, labor organizations, and members of Congress who argue that it would hinder college athletes from negotiating their compensation. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) stated, "What this bill does, at its core, is protect a system of exploitation," highlighting concerns about the financial benefits accruing to coaches and executives at the expense of athletes.
The Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP have raised concerns that the bill does not include provisions for Black athletes, who constitute a majority in football and basketball programs, to engage in collective bargaining.
The NCAA plans to implement a five-year eligibility rule, cap agent fees at 5%, impose penalties on second transfers, and codify student-athlete protections, including 10-year degree completion assistance and post-eligibility healthcare. Should the bill pass, all legal challenges to these rules would be addressed in federal court.
Some senior Republican officials in the House, including Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), have expressed reservations about passing the legislation without clarity on whether student-athletes will be classified as employees and whether further restrictions should be applied to international student-athletes. If amendments are made in the House, the bill would return to the Senate for another vote.
President Trump has shown strong support for the bill, stating on Truth Social, "THE PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT is a great Bill, and the Senate will hopefully stay in D.C. until it passes. Without this Bill, millions of young Athletes will be hurt, programs will be canceled ... the fans will be robbed, and Universities will go broke."