Key Senators Cruz, Cantwell Look to Break College Sports Logjam in Congress with a Bipartisan Bill
The bipartisan measure would give the NCAA limited antitrust protection and set new national rules on transfers, eligibility and pay caps.
- After years of legislative stalling, Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., are set to introduce a bipartisan college sports bill within days that would limit players to one unrestricted transfer per career and impose a hard salary cap on athletes.
- College sports has grappled with rising player costs and an out-of-control transfer portal threatening smaller women's and Olympic sports, while NIL deals from booster collectives have allowed schools to circumvent salary-sharing limits set by the House v. NCAA settlement.
- The bill grants a limited antitrust exemption allowing the industry to self-regulate player eligibility and transfers, preempts state-by-state NIL regulations, and includes a "Lane Kiffin Rule" prohibiting midseason coaching changes; pooling TV rights could generate more than $9 billion with guardrails protecting women's and Olympic sports scholarships.
- Cantwell said she and Cruz teamed on the legislation because the college sports system is "in a bit of chaos," though SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey objected to endorsing an unseen bill and both he and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti withheld support.
- The bill needs 60 votes to clear the Senate, with momentum critical before August recess and midterm elections; Cantwell emphasized the legislation protects all athletes, not merely the "1% of athletes who go on to have a professional career.
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128 Articles
Nebraska Examiner
Bipartisan deal floated on college athletes’ name, image and likeness legislation
Two senators have reached a bipartisan deal on legislation dealing with college athletes' name, image and likeness compensation. (Photo by Getty Images)WASHINGTON — A pair of U.S. senators reached a bipartisan agreement on a sweeping bill aimed at tackling many of the biggest issues surrounding how to compensate players in college sports. GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state — the top members of the S…
Policy shaper Cody Campbell asks college sports leaders to give bipartisan fix-it bill a chance
An architect of the Senate bill that proposes to solve problems engulfing college sports says he heard the criticism right away, along with conversations of breakaway conferences, collective bargaining and ever-spiraling spending
Key senators look to break college sports logjam in Congress with a bipartisan bill
The senators will introduce a bipartisan bill that would regulate payments to players, limit them to one “free” transfer over their careers and create a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to restrict coach movement during the season.
Congress Moves to Safeguard College Sports Amid Antitrust Battle
A new bipartisan bill is set to be introduced in the Senate next week as the federal government steps in to protect college sports, athletes, fans, and women’s sports. Congress is acting with the first governance and revenue bill of its kind. The Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced it has “reached a bipartisan agreement on legislation to restore stability to college sports, titled the Protect College Sports Ac…
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