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Thune Files Cloture on College Sports Bill, $5M Women

8/6/2026

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Center

Thune Files Cloture

On August 5 2026, Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a cloture motion on the Protect College Sports Act (S.4668) to advance it to floor vote.
The bill’s bipartisan co-sponsors include Senators Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell and Eric Schmitt.
It requires a 60-vote supermajority before the Senate recess on August 10.
The revised bill adds a $5 million revenue-sharing exception for women’s and non-revenue Olympic sports.

Right

Thune Files Cloture

On August 5 2026, Senate Leader John Thune filed a cloture motion on the Protect College Sports Act (S.4668) to advance it to a floor vote.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) called the bill a “clown show” and urged a narrower eligibility proposal without waivers.
President Donald Trump said he was hopeful the bill will soon reach Senate floor.
The bill adds a $22.5 million athlete-retention pool and $5 million for women’s and Olympic sports.

Blindspot

Blindspot

The Big Ten and SEC athletic conferences have endorsed the Protect College Sports Act after its revisions, according to the Center-leaning sources.
Within this story's sources, this endorsement appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

After the Supreme Court’s unanimous June 21 2021 ruling in NCAA v. Alston that education-related compensation violates antitrust law, California passed the 2021 Fair Pay to Play Act, earmarking $15 million for NIL deals. Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s Protect College Sports Act now proposes a $22.5 million athlete-retention pool and $5 million for women’s sports, extending the precedent to revenue-sharing across major conferences.

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Thune Files Cloture

On August 5 2026, Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a cloture motion on the Protect College Sports Act (S.4668) to advance it to floor vote.
The bill’s bipartisan co-sponsors include Senators Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell and Eric Schmitt.
It requires a 60-vote supermajority before the Senate recess on August 10.
The revised bill adds a $5 million revenue-sharing exception for women’s and non-revenue Olympic sports.

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