Cruz-Cantwell College Sports Bill Clears Senate Panel 19-9 as SEC and Big Ten Push Back
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jun 18
Cruz-Cantwell College Sports Bill Clears Senate Panel 19-9 as SEC and Big Ten Push Back
3 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jun 18
Summary
A 19-9 Senate Commerce Committee vote sent the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act to the full Senate, giving Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell their first major breakthrough on college sports regulation.
The bill responds to post-2021 NIL upheaval and the 2024 revenue-sharing settlement by preserving athletes’ NIL earnings while adding disclosure rules, transfer limits and medical protections.
A late revision set a $700 million revenue threshold for blocking conference expansion, a provision aimed at preventing a Big Ten-SEC super-league and protecting smaller programs and non-revenue sports.
Support from 23 conferences, the NCAA, major pro leagues and Trump contrasts with opposition from the SEC and Big Ten, while some Republicans and the Congressional Black Caucus want further changes.
The next hurdle is the Senate floor, where Cruz wants a broad bipartisan margin before sending the measure to the House, where a more partisan rival approach has stalled.
Will a federal law solve the college sports crisis, or just delay athletes being recognized as employees?
With powerful conferences opposed, can this bill unify college sports or will it deepen existing divisions?
Federal Intervention in College Sports: The Protect College Sports Act, Section 114, and the Future of Athlete Pay
Overview
The Protect College Sports Act is moving forward in Congress, drawing major attention for its impact on athlete compensation. Strongly supported by Olympic and Paralympic leaders, the bill faces debate over Section 114, which aims to close a loophole that lets schools pay athletes beyond set revenue caps. Many in college sports believe this section could reshape the compensation market and reduce athlete earnings by hundreds of millions of dollars. As the Act advances, its potential to change how athletes are paid and how schools manage compensation is at the center of ongoing discussions and concerns.