WASHINGTON, D.C. – Intercollegiate conferences and universities across the country are praising the introduction of the Protect College Sports Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at ending the uncertainty and disorder facing college athletics. The legislation was formally introduced today in the U.S. Senate by Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.).
Chairman Cruz will convene a full committee hearing tomorrow, June 3, at 9:00 a.m. ET on the legislation. Witnesses are Nick Saban, Pete Bevacqua, Gordon Gee, Teresa Gould, and Lance Holtzclaw.
To read a one-pager, click HERE.
To read a section-by-section, click HERE.
To read the bill text, click HERE.
Below are excerpts from statements in support of the Protect College Sports Act:
Saving College Sports: “The current fragmented state-by-state system has only produced confusion, compliance challenges, competitive imbalance and financial distress. Thoughtful and comprehensive reform, such as the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, will provide much needed stability while preserving access, opportunity and increased revenue, as well as underscoring the values that distinguish collegiate athletics and make our academic mission the envy of the world.” – over 80 Presidents, Chancellors, current and former Board Chairs and governing Board Members of colleges and universities across the United States
Atlantic Coast Conference: “Your comprehensive approach in proposing solutions to the most pressing issues facing college sports is deserving of praise. College sports means a great deal to the 18 institutions in the ACC and the students and communities they serve. While we continue to address the needs of our student-athletes through comprehensive reform, only Congress can provide solutions that truly stabilize a system that changes the lives of so many participants through leadership, mentorship and the attainment of lifelong earning potential through academic degrees from the world’s leading institutions of higher education.” – James J. Phillips, PhD, Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference
American Conference: “The American Conference supports the Protect College Sports Act of 2026 and sees this moment as an opportunity for our entire industry to come together to set forth a structured future. As a former student-athlete I am a product of the life-changing experiences that college sports provide. It is our responsibility to establish a framework so that all student-athletes will have the opportunity to earn degrees from our world-class institutions, become leaders, and win championships.” – Tim Pernetti, Commissioner, American Conference
Big 12 Conference: “As the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference I write to express support for the Protect College Sports Act of 2026 and to commend the bipartisan effort to establish a more consistent national framework for college athletics. This legislation reflects an important commitment to and a good foundation for greater stability, clearer standards, and meaningful protections for student-athletes.”- Brett Yormark, Commissioner, Big 12 Conference
To view a full list of supporting statements, click HERE.
Coverage details on how the Protect College Sports Act is the necessary reform:
“Hats off to Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) for negotiating a rational effort to calm the chaos now plaguing college athletics.” – New York Post Editorial Board
“Even as the various players ‘review’ the Cruz-Cantwell bill, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it’s a no-brainer. It would set standards for NIL payouts to help preserve sports that get shortchanged, and make sure donor money also flows to academics.” – New York Post, Charles Gasparino
“Though only the first step in a labyrinth approval process within Congress’ bureaucratic system, the Senate agreement is a historic moment in college leaders’ seven-year lobbying effort on Capitol Hill to bring stability to a landscape that grew unregulated through their slow resistance to change.” – Yahoo Sports, Ross Dellenger
“The bill looks very much like the ‘best of’ from a pair of legislative proposals — one called SCORE, another called SAFE — that have gone nowhere over the past several months. It contains two elements the NCAA has supported: a limited antitrust exemption and a clause that would preempt much of the patchwork of state laws currently regulating NIL.” –Associated Press, Eddie Pells
“As the power conferences debate College Football Playoff expansion and roster budgets — and the Big Ten and SEC saber-rattle about self-governance — some stakeholders believe a Cruz-Cantwell bill out of the Senate is the most viable path to a college sports bill being ratified into law, at a time when the industry seems in desperate need of reform.” – The Athletic, Justin Williams
“So, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) ramped up their work on putting together a bipartisan bill that could be seen as a win-win for both sides of the aisle.” – OutKick, Trey Wallace
“If you’ve paid any attention to college sports over the last few years, you know the only steady thing is unsteadiness. Between the endless carousel of the transfer portal, NIL deals masquerading as booster slush funds, and conference realignments destroying century-old traditions, the landscape has become almost unrecognizable. Some people love it, and I think that’s fine. I hate it. A lot of fans have been begging for some common sense, and surprisingly, Washington might actually deliver on it. Senators Maria Cantwell (D) and Ted Cruz (R) have introduced the bipartisan ‘Protect College Sports Act,’ and after reading through the fine print, I have to admit, this might be exactly what we need.” – SB Nation, Dholbrook
“I’ve been working on this issue for about five years.. I’ve never been so optimistic that we may actually have the solution to solve the problems.. This bill would effectively end the chaos in college sports.” – Cody Campbell on the Pat McAfee Show
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