WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate is poised to pass the Protect College Sports Act, a measure that grants the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption and increases athlete revenue sharing. The legislation faces opposition in the U.S. House of Representatives, where leadership has signaled delays until after the midterm elections.

The bill allows schools to increase direct payments to athletes through revenue sharing from approximately $21 million to $49 million. It also grants conferences the option to pool their media rights, similar to the antitrust protections professional leagues like the NFL and NBA hold under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. The act affects approximately 500,000 college athletes in the United States, according to a press release from the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation.

Additional provisions include restoring a five-year eligibility rule for college athletes and establishing a one-time free transfer, with subsequent transfers requiring athletes to sit out for one year. The legislation attempts to crack down on above-market-value name, image, and likeness deals and caps agent pay. A commission will be created to study whether any intercollegiate sport should be subject to spending or cost limitations.

"For years, everyone around college sports made money — schools, conferences, television networks, sponsors, coaches — while the athletes were told they could not make any money," Tuberville said in a Senate floor speech. "That needed to change, and it did." Tuberville retired from coaching in 2016 and played football at Southern State, a Division II school. He is currently running for governor of Alabama.

Tuberville reflected on the changes in player retention during an interview. "When I was coaching, you used to be able to develop a young person over a four- or five-year period and send them out into the real world as a man or woman with a degree, an education," he said. "Now you're lucky to keep a player one season. And that's what it's about." Prior to supporting the current bill, Tuberville had introduced a narrower college sports bill that focused on transfer rules and eligibility.

Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington and the lead sponsor of the act, stated financial trends in college athletics show that from 2005 to 2023, college athletic departments saw a 370% increase in coaching salaries. She also cited a 200% increase in travel costs, a 250% increase in gameday expenses, and more than a 300% increase in recruiting costs during the same period. Cantwell cited these figures as key reasons for the need for reform.

Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey who played tight end at Stanford University from 1987 to 1990, has consistently voted against the Protect College Sports Act in procedural votes. He proposed an amendment to limit coaches' annual salaries to $5 million, which was not adopted. Booker expressed frustration with the economic dynamics of college sports.

"I just saw the economic bargain that they were getting — coming hundreds, if not thousands of miles away from family, not having the resources in any way proportionate to what they were doing for the university and for TV contracts and for well-paid coaches," Booker said in an interview. "That's what frustrates me — we have a bill that's going to protect the wealth and the gravy train for a lot of folks but puts burdens on college athletes. It doesn't even put burdens on the coaches." Florida Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott also voted against advancing the bill multiple times.

The Senate voted 74-24 to invoke cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Protect College Sports Act, which was reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The bill has the support of 29 collegiate athletic conferences and more than 370 colleges and universities across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. President Donald Trump endorsed the act, and Representative Michael Baumgartner also voiced support.

In the House, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie criticized multiple aspects of the act in May. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise criticized the bill earlier this summer. Representatives Michael Cloud and Chip Roy expressed skepticism about the urgency of the legislation via social media.

Representative Neal Dunn shared Florida State University's statement regarding the expansion provision of the act. Walberg and Representative John Husted introduced the TEAM USA Act, which would prohibit varsity sports programs from offering more than 20% of roster spots to international athletes. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he would take up the Protect College Sports Act when the House returns after the midterm elections in November.

Timeline

Tommy Tuberville retired from coaching in 2016. A $2.7 billion settlement regarding college athlete compensation was approved last year. House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg criticized multiple aspects of the Protect College Sports Act in May.

What's New

Maria Cantwell, the lead Democratic sponsor of the Protect College Sports Act, stated that from 2005 to 2023, college athletic departments saw a 370% increase in coaching salaries, which she cited as a key reason for the need for reform. Tuberville, a former college football coach, initially opposed the Protect College Sports Act due to concerns about federal overreach and potential conflicts with state laws regarding transgender athletes, as reported by al.com. Tuberville changed his vote on the Protect College Sports Act after revisions were made to address his concerns about federal intervention and the inclusion of provisions related to athlete eligibility and transfers.

Tuberville, prior to supporting the Protect College Sports Act, had introduced his own narrower college sports bill that focused on specific reforms, including changes to eligibility rules and transfer policies. The Protect College Sports Act affects approximately 500,000 college athletes in the United States, as stated in a press release from the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on details regarding the Protect College Sports Act. Commerce.senate.gov states that Maria Cantwell, the lead Democratic sponsor, stated that from 2005 to 2023, college athletic departments saw a 370% increase in coaching salaries, while the U.S. Senate committee roster identifies her as the lead Democrat on the act. Commerce.senate.gov notes the act affects approximately 500,000 college athletes, whereas the Protect College Sports Act text specifies an increase in revenue sharing from approximately $21 million to $49 million.

Commerce.senate.gov reports support from 29 collegiate athletic conferences and more than 370 colleges, while the U.S. Senate voting record shows Tuberville's switch to support the act after initial opposition. Commerce.senate.gov lists broad institutional support, while the U.S. Senate committee roster focuses on Cantwell's leadership role.

Why It Matters

The Protect College Sports Act represents a shift in the regulation of college athletics, granting the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption and altering how athletes are compensated. By increasing revenue sharing limits and allowing media rights pooling, the bill aims to stabilize the financial structure of college sports as costs rise and legal challenges continue. The legislation follows a $2.7 billion settlement approved last year regarding athlete compensation, indicating a continued move toward professionalizing aspects of the collegiate model.

The bill's passage in the Senate contrasts with opposition in the House, where leaders have delayed consideration until after the midterm elections. This divide reflects ongoing debates over federal involvement in college sports, athlete eligibility, and the distribution of revenue among institutions, coaches, and players. The creation of a commission to study spending limits suggests further regulatory scrutiny may follow, affecting how athletic departments manage budgets and recruit talent in the future.