Overview
- The Commerce Committee held a hearing on Wednesday to vet the Protect College Sports Act with witnesses including coach Nick Saban, Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua, Pac‑12 commissioner Teresa Gould, and current Utah defensive end Lance Holtzclaw.
- The bill, authored by Sens. Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, would preempt state NIL laws, create federal NIL standards, limit transfers to one free move, ban in‑season coach hires, and permit conferences to pool media rights if 75% of FBS schools opt in.
- The Big Ten and SEC issued a joint statement saying they do not support the bill in its current form because it fails to fully preempt state laws, shifts rule‑making to Congress, and could expand litigation rather than reduce it.
- Athlete advocacy groups oppose the measure for restricting pay and bargaining rights, while some conferences such as the Big 12, ACC, and the American have publicly backed the proposal, leaving the college sports world divided.
- Sponsors plan committee markup this month and the White House says it is reviewing the legislation, but experts warn legal challenges and political divisions make passage before year end unlikely.