The U.S. Senate on Monday, Sept. 28, is scheduled to vote on the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill co-authored by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) that would establish a national framework for college athlete compensation and NCAA authority.
The legislation would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption to enforce uniform rules on athlete eligibility, conference realignment, and the prevention of a private-equity “super league” replacing NCAA subdivisions. It also seeks to codify the $2.8-billion antitrust settlement from House v. NCAA, increasing the revenue-sharing cap for Division I schools from $21.5 million to approximately $50 million while tightening enforcement to prevent circumvention via booster-backed deals.
Senate Approval Expected; House and Presidential Path Uncertain
The bill is widely expected to pass the Senate, with bipartisan support noted by both Cantwell and Cruz. However, its fate in the House remains uncertain, with opposition from groups including the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP. If approved by the House, the legislation would proceed to President Trump’s desk for signature.
Key Provisions of the Protect College Sports Act
The bill includes several provisions aimed at standardizing college sports governance:
- Revenue Sharing Expansion: The $21.5-million cap on direct athlete compensation, established under the House v. NCAA settlement, would increase to $50 million per school, with stricter enforcement to prevent schools from bypassing limits through third-party deals. Schools would also receive an additional $27 million to retain current athletes.
- Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Regulation: The bill seeks to tighten NIL rules, addressing concerns that wealthier schools exploited loopholes by funneling compensation through corporate sponsorships and booster-backed entities. The NCAA would gain authority to incorporate affiliated-entity money into revenue-sharing calculations.
- Transfer and Eligibility Changes: Players would be allowed to transfer schools once without penalty, and eligibility would be capped at five years. The bill also allocates up to $5 million specifically for women’s and Olympic sports, which generate less revenue than football and basketball.
- Super League Prevention: The legislation explicitly blocks the creation of a private-equity model super league, which would replace traditional NCAA subdivisions and potentially disrupt existing conference structures.
Supporters and Opponents Weigh In
Proponents, including Cruz, argue the bill “embraces the new reality” of NIL compensation while providing necessary structure to prevent exploitation. Cantwell has framed the legislation as a way to “protect student-athletes” while maintaining competitive balance across schools.
Opposition groups, such as the Congressional Black Caucus and NAACP, have raised concerns about the antitrust exemption, arguing it could entrench the NCAA’s power and limit athlete autonomy. Outside critics have also questioned whether the revenue-sharing increases will disproportionately benefit powerhouse programs at the expense of smaller schools.
Background: The Path to Regulation
The Protect College Sports Act represents the latest effort to regulate college sports amid a five-year wave of legal and legislative changes. In 2021, a series of court rulings forced the NCAA to suspend its ban on athlete compensation, leading to the rise of NIL deals. The House v. NCAA settlement in 2024 further solidified the shift by allowing schools to share revenue with current and former athletes, though enforcement mechanisms remained loosely defined.
The bill’s sponsors describe it as a necessary step to bring clarity and fairness to a rapidly evolving landscape. Critics, however, warn that the antitrust exemption could stifle competition and reduce athlete bargaining power in the long term.
If passed, the legislation would mark a significant federal intervention in college sports governance, setting a precedent for how athlete compensation and league structures are regulated in the future.