Efforts to pass the $19 billion college sports industry are stalling in the Senate ahead of an August 1, 2026 deadline. Despite a strong committee vote, senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell face intense lobbying pushback from the Big Ten and SEC over media pooling. Efforts to overhaul the nation’s 19 billion college sports industry … Read more
The NFL and the NFL Players Association have officially endorsed the “Protect College Sports Act” of 2026, a bipartisan Senate proposal aimed at regulating name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and athlete transfers. Introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, the legislation seeks to stabilize collegiate athletics amid ongoing legal and financial uncertainty. Broad … Read more
University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman, representing the Southeastern Conference, met virtually with U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell on June 9, 2026, to discuss the Protect College Sports Act. The bipartisan legislation aims to establish a federal framework for athlete compensation, eligibility, and conference stability as the NCAA faces escalating legal challenges. The … Read more
U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell introduced the 111-page Protect College Sports Act on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The bipartisan legislation seeks to establish federal standards for name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments, regulate the transfer portal, and implement a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to restrict mid-season coaching movement. Standardizing Federal Oversight for Collegiate Athletics … Read more
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., announced the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The legislation aims to stabilize the college athletics industry by granting the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption, setting athlete compensation caps, and establishing new federal standards for player transfers and eligibility. Legislative Framework for a … Read more