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Sport

US Senate passes college sports bill 77-22 in first federal NIL framework

The US Senate voted 77-22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act, the first federal framework for college athlete pay, transfers and eligibility; it now heads to the House.

By Tom Ellery · · 1 min read

The US Senate voted 77-22 on Monday evening to pass the Protect College Sports Act, the first federal framework for college athlete compensation, transfers and eligibility — the biggest congressional intervention yet in the multibillion-dollar industry.

The bill would set national standards for name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, including mandatory disclosure of NIL deals worth over $600, and would preempt the patchwork of NIL laws already on the books in more than 30 states. Athletes get one transfer between schools without losing or delaying eligibility; a second transfer costs a year of eligibility except in four circumstances, including a head coach’s departure, sexual assault or harassment, and a sport being discontinued. Eligibility would be capped at five years, excepting pregnancy, religious missions, active-duty military service and serious injury or illness.

It was championed by Senate Commerce Committee chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), with Cruz taking the case to ESPN’s College GameDay. Fifty of 53 Republicans backed it along with 27 members of the Democratic caucus, while Senators Rick Scott and Rand Paul opposed — Paul’s gutting amendment failed 1-94.

The bill sidesteps the employee-classification fight, gives the NCAA and conferences limited antitrust protection for the new rules, and lets athletes sue to enforce its provisions rather than requiring arbitration. It builds on the 2025 House v. NCAA settlement that let colleges share revenue with athletes directly.

The bill now heads to the House, which is in recess until after 3 November’s midterm elections.

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