Story perspectives

Protect College Sports Act Advances 19–9 Out Committee

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 2:25 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell moved the Protect College Sports Act out of committee 19-9.
The bill requires public disclosure of NIL deals over $600 and fair-market agreements.
It limits athletes to one transfer, caps eligibility at five years, and spending at $22.5 million.
The act grants NCAA an antitrust exemption and lets conferences pool TV rights.
Support includes the SEC, Big Ten, President Donald Trump, Nick Saban and Deion Sanders.

History

Historical Context

The 1984 Supreme Court ruling in NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma struck down the NCAA’s television plan as an illegal restraint of trade, allowing schools to sell broadcast rights individually. That shift spurred massive TV revenues—Texas alone reported $69 million profit in 2009-10—and set the stage for recent NIL reforms, including the SEC-backed bill requiring disclosure of athlete deals over $600.

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Story summary

Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell moved the Protect College Sports Act out of committee 19-9.
The bill requires public disclosure of NIL deals over $600 and fair-market agreements.
It limits athletes to one transfer, caps eligibility at five years, and spending at $22.5 million.
The act grants NCAA an antitrust exemption and lets conferences pool TV rights.
Support includes the SEC, Big Ten, President Donald Trump, Nick Saban and Deion Sanders.

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