Senators Unveil the Protect College Sports Act: What's Inside

By faNILy Team · May 27, 2026

Just over a week after the SCORE Act stalled in the House, the Senate has its own answer. On May 27, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) announced they're introducing the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, a bipartisan bill aimed at stabilizing college athletics.

"College sports are at a breaking point. Fans can see their favorite teams being hollowed out by transfer chaos, fake NIL bidding wars, eligibility lawsuits, and a system that allows the richest programs to keep pulling away." - Sen. Ted Cruz

Here's what's in it, based on the Senate Commerce Committee's release.

NIL and athlete protections

A federal right to earn NIL compensation and a national NIL standard to replace today's patchwork of state laws
Agent fees capped at 5%, with agents required to register with a state and certify to the NCAA
Scholarships guaranteed for 10 years after eligibility ends
Five years of post-eligibility medical coverage for sports-related injuries
A $60 million annual trust fund to help schools with financial need and athletes with long-term conditions
Independent health and safety officers who report outside athletic departments
A private right of action, letting athletes enforce their rights in court instead of being forced into arbitration

Transfers and eligibility

Five years of eligibility starting at age 19 or high school graduation, which tracks with the NCAA's own proposal from April
One penalty-free transfer, with a second transfer requiring a year on the sidelines, with exceptions
No leaving mid-season for football coaches and key staff to take over another FBS program

Media rights and revenue

The bill would amend the Sports Broadcasting Act so colleges can negotiate media rights collectively. The release estimates more than $9 billion in new revenue potential. Schools would have to use pooled media revenue to keep the same number of scholarships and roster spots for non-football sports as in 2024-25.

It would also bar conferences that topped $1 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue from merging with each other.

Governance

At least one-third of athletic boards would have to be current or recent athletes, and the NCAA would get an Athlete Ombudsman office.

What it doesn't do

The committee's release doesn't address whether athletes are employees. That's a notable contrast with the House's SCORE Act, which would have declared that college athletes aren't employees.

What it means for fans and athletes

A national NIL standard would make life simpler for athletes and families who now have to track different rules in different states. The agent fee cap and registration rules target a part of NIL where families have often been on their own.

For fans, pooled media rights could mean more money flowing through college sports, and the requirement to protect scholarships and roster spots in non-football sports could matter a lot to fans of those teams.

It's a bill, not a law. It still has to move through committee and both chambers. But it's the most serious bipartisan effort in a while, so it's worth knowing what's in it.