The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act on Monday, September 28, 2026, in a bipartisan 77-22 vote. The legislation seeks to establish a national framework for college athletics, focusing on name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, transfer eligibility, and health protections. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, though its future is uncertain as the chamber is on recess until after the November midterm elections.
The bill arrives after roughly a decade of litigation that has challenged long-standing rules governing amateurism and athlete compensation. Supporters, including the NCAA and major athletic conferences like the Big Ten and SEC, argue the measure is necessary to stabilize a system they describe as the "Wild West." Negotiations between Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) lasted for more than a year before the bill reached the floor.
If enacted, the legislation would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption to restore five-year eligibility rules and transfer limits. It also adopts a revenue-sharing framework from a recent settlement, allowing schools to share approximately $21.6 million with athletes for the 2026-2027 academic year, plus an additional $22.5 million for an athlete retention fund. Additionally, the bill caps agent commissions for NIL deals at 5% and limits conference membership to 20 schools to prevent the formation of "super leagues."
The scale of the financial impact is centered on the nation’s largest athletic departments, which could see tens of millions of dollars redistributed. The $21.6 million revenue-sharing cap per school, when distributed across hundreds of athletes, represents a new era of direct compensation. However, the Congressional Black Caucus and labor groups argue the bill undermines athlete rights by limiting their ability to challenge NCAA business practices in court. Furthermore, while the bill requires schools to maintain scholarships for women’s and Olympic sports, these protections expire after nine years for large schools and four years for midsize schools, with potential exemptions for schools facing financial hardship.
The bill also addresses rising administrative costs, as a report from Sen. Cantwell noted that coaching salaries rose 370% between 2005 and 2023. Opponents, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), argue the bill fails to rein in these expenses while placing new burdens on athletes. With the Senate now preparing to leave Washington before the midterms, the House is not expected to take up the measure until after the elections. A final effective date remains unknown, pending House approval and a presidential signature.