The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, establishing a federal rulebook for collegiate athletics that caps player transfers, codifies name, image and likeness rights, and expands school revenue-sharing with student-athletes.
The legislation cleared the chamber on a 77-22 vote, bringing order to what proponents described as an unsustainable, fragmented system driven by conflicting court decisions and an unchecked spending arms race among major athletic programs. Backed by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz of Texas and the panel’s top Democrat, Maria Cantwell of Washington, the bill aims to replace a patchwork of state laws with a single overarching federal standard governing student-athlete compensation and eligibility.
Protect College Sports Act Provisions on Transfers and Revenue Sharing
Under the newly passed measure, student-athletes would be granted a federal right to profit from their name, image and likeness, while facing strict new limits on their ability to switch schools. The bill restricts players to a single career transfer without losing eligibility, curbing a portal-heavy environment where students were changing programs two, three or four times according to lawmakers.
The legislation also codifies a revenue-sharing framework initially outlined in a settlement agreement, allowing universities to share roughly $21.6 million directly with athletes for the 2026-2027 school year. Institutions would also maintain an athlete retention fund with an additional $22.5 million per school alongside provisions expanding revenue-sharing up to approximately $43 to $45 million annually. An additional $5 million provision is designated specifically for women’s and Olympic non-revenue sports to safeguard against program cuts.
“Today the Senate has the opportunity to protect the half million college athletes and the millions more who follow in their footsteps.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican sponsor of the legislation, via Politico
Supporters argue the framework is essential to preserve Olympic and women’s sports as big-ticket football departments direct massive resources toward attracting top talent.
Bipartisan Senate Support Overshadowed by Sharp Democratic Opposition
Despite the wide 77-22 bipartisan margin, the legislation exposed deep divisions within the Democratic caucus. Civil rights and labor leaders, alongside the Congressional Black Caucus, vocally opposed the bill, arguing it rushed through Congress without adequately addressing the rights of Black athletes, coaches, or historically black colleges and universities as noted in congressional statements.
“At its core, it’s a bill that undermines the rights of young people who pour their blood, sweat, tears, countless hours of work and more into their craft.”
Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, via USA Today
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey led the floor opposition, criticizing colleagues for prioritizing college sports legislation while pressing national challenges like high fuel costs and healthcare expenses went unaddressed. Opponents also argued the bill strips athletes of their legal standing to challenge NCAA rules in court while failing to establish employee status or genuine collective bargaining rights for college competitors.
Legislative Hurdles Ahead in the House of Representatives
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, where its path remains uncertain as lawmakers have recessed until after the midterm elections in early November. President Donald Trump has signaled his strong support for the package and wants to sign it into law as quickly as possible once it reaches his desk.
However, House Republican leadership faces competing pressures to the legislative timeline.
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