Senators in July 2026 to negotiate federal legislation intended to stabilize the college sports landscape. The discussions focused on the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell that seeks to grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption to govern transfers and eligibility. While the universities support the bill’s intent, they are pushing for significant revisions to address concerns over conference expansion, media rights pooling, and the preemption of state laws.
Legislative Push for the Protect College Sports Act
The meeting included Ohio State president Ravi Bellamkonda, Michigan president Domenico Grasso, Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi, and USC president Beong-Soo Kim. They convened with a bipartisan group of seven senators, including Cruz, Cantwell, Ohio’s Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, Michigan’s Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin, and Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman. According to a joint statement from the four universities, the primary objective is to secure a national framework that provides regulatory certainty and protects the educational mission of collegiate athletics.
The Protect College Sports Act, introduced in late May, aims to shield the NCAA from state and local court challenges regarding its internal rules. However, major conferences remain wary of the current draft. The Big Ten and SEC have previously argued that the bill, in its original form, would limit their ability to adapt to a changing landscape and potentially reduce revenue-sharing opportunities for student-athletes.
Did you know?
The Big Ten and SEC have expressed concerns that the proposed legislation might inadvertently increase litigation rather than reduce it, while also shifting rulemaking power away from athletic conferences and into the hands of Congress.
Negotiating Revisions to Federal Sports Law
Following the Tuesday meetings, Yahoo Sports reported that lawmakers are considering revisions to the bill to address the specific demands of the Power 4 conferences. Ross Dellenger noted that “positive momentum” exists regarding changes to the bill’s anti-expansion provisions and the clarification of media rights pooling.
The current points of contention include:
- Conference Expansion: Adjustments to the anti-expansion concept are being reviewed to allow for school movement while preventing third-party entities from “poaching” schools to form a super league.
- Media Rights: Clarifications are expected to ensure that pooling media rights remains a voluntary process for FBS institutions, rather than a federally mandated threshold of 75%.
- NIL Restrictions: Legislators are looking to clarify provisions that prohibit Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals with associated entities to avoid potential legal pitfalls.
The Path Toward Regulatory Certainty
Despite the ongoing negotiations, some university concerns remain unaddressed. According to reports, requests from the Big Ten and SEC to include comprehensive liability protection—essentially insulating schools from future legal challenges—have not yet been met. Revisions to the text of the bill are expected by the end of the week, as the Senate aims for a vote before the early August recess.
Pro Tip:
When tracking college sports legislation, focus on the distinction between “antitrust exemptions” and “state law preemption.” The former protects the NCAA’s rulebook, while the latter aims to unify the patchwork of state-level NIL laws that currently complicate recruiting and transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Protect College Sports Act?
Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell that would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption, allowing it to enforce rules on transfers and eligibility without facing constant legal challenges in state courts.
Why are the Big Ten and SEC opposing parts of the bill?
The conferences argue that the bill’s current language regarding media rights and conference expansion is too restrictive. They also fear it does not sufficiently preempt state laws, which they believe is necessary to maintain long-term stability.
When is a vote expected on this legislation?
The Senate is currently expected to hold a vote on the bill before the legislative recess begins in early August.
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