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Senate to Vote Protect College Sports Act

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 11:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Senate will vote on the Protect College Sports Act.
Senators Maria Cantwell, Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt sponsor the bill.
The bill would double revenue sharing to $44-45 million per department and add $5 million for women’s sports.
GAO data shows 94% of Division I programs spent more than they earned in 2023-24.
Senator Cory Booker opposes the act, calling the NCAA a “serial monopolist” of a $15 billion industry.

History

Historical Context

In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law, mandating gender equity in federally funded education programs, including athletics. The Department of Education reported that by 2020, women’s collegiate sports participation rose 120% from 1972, while NCAA revenues reached $15 billion annually. Today's Protect College Sports Act, sponsored by Senators Maria Cantwell, Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt, seeks to double revenue sharing to $44-45 million and allocate $5 million for women’s programs, echoing Title IX’s equity goals. If passed, the bill could reshape the $15 billion NCAA market, forcing compliance with equity standards and prompting future congressional oversight of collegiate athletics.

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Story summary

The Senate will vote on the Protect College Sports Act.
Senators Maria Cantwell, Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt sponsor the bill.
The bill would double revenue sharing to $44-45 million per department and add $5 million for women’s sports.
GAO data shows 94% of Division I programs spent more than they earned in 2023-24.
Senator Cory Booker opposes the act, calling the NCAA a “serial monopolist” of a $15 billion industry.

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