The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Big Ten Conference have agreed to support the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, a Senate bill aimed at imposing federal sanctions on collegiate athletics. The agreement follows weeks of negotiations between the two powerhouse NCAA conferences and Senate leaders.
The conferences’ support could pave the way for Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to schedule a floor vote on the bill before the Senate’s August recess. However, it remains uncertain whether the legislation will achieve the necessary 60-vote threshold for passage.
The Protect College Sports Act, introduced in May by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), seeks to address several issues facing the NCAA. Key provisions include granting the NCAA an antitrust exemption to enforce its rules, limiting student-athletes to one transfer per collegiate career, restricting coach movement during seasons, capping athlete eligibility at five years, and preventing former professional athletes from returning to play in college. The bill also proposes allowing the NCAA and a proposed College Sports Commission to enforce limits on how much schools can pay their athletes.
Sources indicate that the most recent version of the bill includes enhanced enforcement mechanisms for "associated entities" to secure the conferences' backing. Prior to the agreement, both the ACC and Big 12 conferences also engaged in discussions with their university leaders regarding the bill.
NCAA President Charlie Baker issued a statement urging lawmakers and university leaders to find common ground for the bill's passage. "It is long past time leaders across college sports call for the immediate passage of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act — a bill supported by student-athlete leaders, Democrats, Republicans and NCAA schools from all three divisions," Baker said.
The White House also played a role in facilitating the agreement, with President Trump reportedly expressing his desire for the bill's passage. "The White House has been following these negotiations closely, and the President has been actively engaged," an administration official told Politico. "President Trump wants to save college sports, and he wants the bill done."