Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act, Setting New National Standards for Athletes

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly passed the Protect College Sports Act on Monday, a significant legislative effort to establish national standards for college athletics, athlete eligibility, and compensation. The bipartisan bill, approved by a 77-22 vote, aims to bring regulatory order to a system long grappling with legal challenges and evolving athlete rights.

The legislation grants the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its member institutions a limited antitrust exemption. This exemption is designed to shield them from potential litigation while they develop and enforce rules concerning athlete eligibility and transfers. Alongside these regulatory changes, the bill significantly increases the cap on direct athlete payments, raising it to approximately $49 million per school, more than double the $21.5 million cap established by a 2025 settlement that resolved several NCAA antitrust lawsuits.

Co-authored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the Protect College Sports Act allows athletes to transfer once per career without penalty of sitting out a year. It also upholds the NCAA's five-year eligibility rule, with the clock starting the academic year after an athlete turns 19 or begins full-time enrollment, whichever comes first. Senator Cruz stated that the bill intends to "restore order to a system being torn apart by too few rules and too much litigation," establishing national standards for transfers, eligibility, tampering, inducements, and revenue sharing, while preserving athletes' rights to name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation.

“College sports is worth saving, for the athletes, for the schools, for the fans, and for America,” Cruz said in an X post, emphasizing the need to protect scholarships, roster spots, and non-revenue-generating sports.

However, the bill's journey is not yet complete. It now moves to the House of Representatives, which is not scheduled to reconvene until after the November 3 midterm elections. Any alterations made by the House would require the Senate to approve the revised legislation again before it can be sent to the President's desk.

Beyond athlete pay and transfers, the Protect College Sports Act introduces new regulations for agents, capping their fees at 5% of an athlete's earnings. It also addresses coaching conduct, barring college football coaches from leaving their positions mid-season, a provision influenced by high-profile departures like that of Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU.

Some lawmakers have voiced concerns about the bill's scope and potential impact. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) argued that the bill might not be necessary, stating that "the facts don’t back up that characterization of college sports." He expressed worry that the legislation could allow colleges to "preserve the system of exploitation" that the Supreme Court deemed unlawful in a 2021 ruling. Conversely, opponents like Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) believe the bill overreaches in regulating athlete compensation, suggesting it should focus solely on transfer and eligibility rules.

The legislation notably leaves open the question of whether college athletes should be classified as university employees with collective bargaining rights. Critics argue that the bill grants excessive power to school officials accused of benefiting financially from athletes without adequate compensation or rights.