WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell co-authored a bipartisan bill to overhaul the college athletics system during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on June 3, 2026. Former head football coach Nick Saban testified at the proceeding alongside athletics department representatives.
The legislation proposes nationwide rules for student-athletes to earn compensation from their name, image, and likeness. It would grant the NCAA or a new national governing body limited antitrust power to enforce regulations and establish a revenue-sharing framework. The proposal remains neutral on whether student-athletes should be classified as university employees. "College athletics is being torn apart," Cruz said. He referred to the legislation as the only bipartisan bill and the last, best hope to save college sports.
The proposed framework would also prohibit the creation of a conference composed exclusively of Southeastern Conference and Big 10 members. The name, image, and likeness era cost college athletic programs a collective $5 billion over the last year. "An arms race of money is occurring in college athletics," Cantwell said. She emphasized the necessity of federal standards for the industry. "The truth is, Congress is the only entity on the planet that can provide the antitrust exemption status to empower a governing body to set the rules and to enforce the rules," she said.
Saban, who won seven national championships as a head football coach, advised against extensive federal intervention in collegiate sports operations. "We cannot have a pay-for-play system and then continue to cut this many women and Olympic athletes in various programs," he said. Saban warned that financial pressures were driving the elimination of non-revenue programs. "Just since 2023, over 100 programs and more than 1,000 athletic scholarships and rosters in women and Olympic sports have been eliminated — and it’s going to get worse," he added.
Conference representatives warned that the proposed revenue-sharing pool would require agreement from 102 of 138 Football Bowl Subdivision institutions, which could result in fewer student-athletes receiving direct compensation. Committee staff expressed optimism that conference officials would collaborate with lawmakers to revise the legislation before it advances.