Senators Cruz and Cantwell Introduce "Protect College Sports Act"
WASHINGTON — Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have introduced the "Protect College Sports Act" (PCSA), a bipartisan bill designed to establish federal regulations for college athletics. The legislation addresses player compensation, athlete transfers, coach movement, and media rights.
The bill was the subject of a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday, where it received support from witnesses including former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban but faced opposition from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Big Ten Conference.
Background and Legislative Context
The Protect College Sports Act was introduced following the SCORE Act, a separate House bill that faced political standoffs. The PCSA does not define college athletes as employees or non-employees, preserving the possibility of future collective bargaining.
The bill has received support from President Donald Trump and the White House. A hearing on the bill was held by the Senate Commerce Committee, with a committee mark-up expected later in the month.
Key Provisions of the Protect College Sports Act
Antitrust Exemption and Oversight
The bill grants a limited antitrust exemption to the NCAA and proposes the creation of a College Sports Commission. In exchange, the NCAA would be required to provide athlete protections, including health insurance and scholarship guarantees.
Player Compensation and Transfers
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Compensation Cap: The bill establishes an enforceable cap on direct payments from schools to athletes, codifying aspects of the House v. NCAA settlement. Outside name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals remain permitted, with enhanced enforcement against pay-for-play practices.
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Transfer Limits: The NCAA would be allowed to limit athletes to one immediate transfer during their undergraduate career. Graduate students would maintain freedom of movement. The bill also establishes a five-year eligibility window and prohibits professional athletes from competing at the college level.
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Agent Regulation: The NCAA would be empowered to sanction agents and cap endorsement fees at 5%.
Media Rights and Conference Structure
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Media Rights Pooling: Conferences would be permitted to pool television rights and sell them collectively, provided at least 75% of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools agree. A percentage of revenue increases would be allocated to women's and Olympic sports.
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Super League Prevention: The bill prohibits conferences with over $1 billion in annual revenue (currently the Big Ten and SEC) from merging or consolidating.
Coach and Personnel Rules
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Coach Movement: The "Lane Kiffin Rule" would prohibit coaches from leaving a program during the season to take a job at another institution.
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Player Protections: Schools must maintain current scholarship levels for non-revenue sports. Scholarships cannot be revoked based on athletic performance, injury, or roster management. Required medical care includes post-eligibility injury coverage.
Legal Provisions
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State Law Preemption: Federal NIL guidelines would supersede existing state regulations.
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Fee-Shifting Clause: The bill includes a provision allowing prevailing parties to recover attorneys' fees. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester noted that this provision applies to both plaintiffs and defendants, potentially discouraging student-athletes from filing lawsuits due to the risk of paying legal fees if they lose.
Hearing Testimony and Support
At the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Nick Saban testified that college sports have devolved into a "pay-for-play" system that is unsustainable and harms non-revenue sports. Saban stated that over 100 programs and 1,000 scholarships in women's and Olympic sports have been eliminated since 2023.
"This is the last, best hope to preserve the current structure of college sports."
— Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Maria Cantwell warned of an "arms race of money" in college athletics. Senator Eric Schmitt stated that Congress is the only entity that can provide an antitrust exemption to establish rules. Senator Ben Ray Luján expressed interest in restricting coach movement between programs.
Senator Bernie Moreno signaled his intent to seek changes to the bill regarding antitrust language and restrictions on men competing in women's sports. Senator Tommy Tuberville stated that changes are needed for his support.
Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Bevacqua warned of the potential formation of a "superleague" that would harm college football. West Virginia University President Gordon Gee described college athletics as facing an "existential crisis."
The Congressional Black Caucus urged a pause on consideration of the bill, citing concerns about the impact of a recent Supreme Court ruling on Black political representation.
Opposition and Legislative Outlook
The SEC and Big Ten issued a joint statement opposing the bill as drafted, stating it "leaves critical issues unresolved" regarding state law preemption and litigation risk. Neither conference has endorsed the legislation.
"The SEC and Big Ten believe the bill leaves critical issues unresolved."
— Joint statement from the conferences
The bill faces significant legislative hurdles. It will require 60 votes to pass the Senate. Cruz expressed confidence that the bill can pass Congress, stating "We're going to get the votes." Industry sources consider progress before the August recess critical due to upcoming midterm elections. Committee aides reported that negotiations with the SEC and Big Ten are ongoing.