Brief

Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act to Regulate Athlete Transfers and Pay

In a 77‑22 vote, the Senate cleared a bill that will reshape college sports by granting the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption and lifting the direct‑pay ceiling for athletes.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:38:09 GMT

The United States Senate on Monday approved the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan measure that will grant the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) a limited antitrust exemption and raise the maximum amount schools can pay athletes directly to around $49 million. The bill passed 77‑22, moving the legislation forward to the House for consideration.

Under the Act, athletes will be allowed to transfer between schools once without sitting out a year, and the NCAA’s five‑year eligibility clock will begin in the academic year after a player turns 19 or when they first enroll full‑time. The legislation also caps agent fees at 5% of earnings and bars college football coaches from leaving for another job mid‑season.

Key Provisions

The Act codifies elements of the 2025 settlement that ended three federal antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA, including a $2.8 billion settlement. It raises the revenue‑sharing cap from the previous $21.5 million to roughly $50 million per school, and it grants the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption to set national rules on eligibility, transfers, tampering, inducements and revenue sharing.

Political Context

Senators Ted Cruz (R‑TX) and Maria Cantwell (D‑WA) co‑authored the bill, which has the backing of more than 70 senators from both parties. The legislation comes amid growing calls for greater athlete protections and clearer rules around name‑image‑likeness (NIL) compensation. President Trump has expressed interest in the bill, and the House will need to pass a version before the Senate can send it to the President’s desk.

Reactions

Proponents argue the Act will "restore order" to a system "torn apart by too few rules and too much litigation," according to a statement from Cruz posted on X. Critics, however, contend the bill does not provide sufficient safeguards for athletes, particularly in terms of NIL and transfer rights.

The Senate’s approval marks a significant step toward national standards for college sports, but the bill still faces scrutiny in the House, where it may be amended before a final vote.

Key facts

The Protect College Sports Act was passed by the Senate with a 77‑22 vote (nypost.com)
The Act raises the direct‑pay ceiling for athletes to approximately $49 million (nypost.com)
Athletes may transfer once without sitting out a year under the new bill (nypost.com)
The bill grants the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption (nypost.com)
Agent fees will be capped at 5% of earnings under the Act (nypost.com)

Background

The Senate’s vote follows earlier Felo coverage on 28 September that highlighted the bipartisan support for the bill and its potential to reshape college sports by granting the NCAA limited antitrust powers and tightening revenue‑sharing limits.

Why it matters

The legislation will establish national standards for athlete transfers, eligibility, and pay, potentially affecting the structure of college sports and the financial rights of student‑athletes.

What happens next

The bill must now pass the House, which is not scheduled to reconvene until after the November 3 midterm elections, before it can be sent to the President for signature.