Big Ten, SEC Back Protect College Sports Act as Senate Vote Nears

College sports moved closer to major federal reform Friday after the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference agreed to support the Protect College Sports Act. Their decision followed an intense week of negotiations that revived a bill many believed had little chance of advancing.

Both conferences approved the legislation after lawmakers addressed concerns about third-party name, image, and likeness deals. They also secured changes involving “associated entities,” which often help arrange NIL agreements between schools and athletes.

As a result, the bipartisan bill now has a realistic chance to reach the Senate floor. Lawmakers must secure 60 votes to end debate before a final vote. Congress plans to begin its summer recess next Friday, creating pressure to move quickly. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., lead the bipartisan effort. Both senators have spent months working with conferences, universities, and college athletics leaders to shape the legislation.

After the conferences announced their support, Cantwell welcomed the development. She said the agreement would help protect women’s sports and Olympic athletes while moving the legislation closer to President Donald Trump’s desk.

Meanwhile, President Trump entered the discussions late Thursday. His involvement helped bring negotiators back together and encouraged both sides to finalize a compromise. Texas Tech regent Cody Campbell also praised the agreement. Campbell has helped shape college sports policy throughout the negotiations. He called the conferences’ support a major breakthrough that brings college athletics closer to a better future.

The revised proposal introduces one of its biggest changes through a new player compensation structure. Schools could distribute up to $27.5 million annually to retain athletes. That amount would come in addition to the existing $21.3 million revenue-sharing cap already established under the House settlement.

Together, those figures would allow schools to provide as much as $48.8 million in player compensation each year. Supporters believe that the structure could reduce reliance on outside NIL collectives. The House settlement currently limits direct revenue sharing to 22 percent of certain athletic department revenues. That formula equals the current $21.3 million cap for this season.

Previously, associated entities could provide additional NIL payments beyond that limit. Many schools argued those arrangements weakened any meaningful salary cap because outside organizations continued paying athletes significant amounts.

Therefore, the SEC and Big Ten pushed for stronger language governing third-party NIL agreements. They wanted assurances that legitimate outside businesses would handle those deals instead of school-affiliated multimedia partners.

However, several important questions remain unanswered. Lawmakers still must determine whether the proposed $27.5 million addition fits within the existing House settlement. The settlement established strict guidelines for revenue-sharing limits.

In addition, uncertainty surrounds the future of the College Sports Commission. The commission currently serves as college athletics’ primary NIL enforcement organization. Much of its work focuses on reviewing third-party NIL agreements. If those deals decline significantly, the commission’s role could change dramatically.

Although Friday’s agreement marked significant progress, the legislation still faces major political hurdles. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has opposed the bill since negotiations began. Earlier in the process, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also criticized the proposal. He argued that the previous version created confusion while reducing opportunities for student-athletes.

Now observers will watch whether support from the SEC convinces lawmakers from conference states to support the revised bill. Even if the Senate approves the legislation, another challenge awaits. The bill must still pass the closely divided House of Representatives. That chamber struggled for more than a year to advance another college athletics proposal known as the SCORE Act.

Smaller conferences also face difficult decisions. Many previously supported federal legislation because they wanted consistent national rules. Now they must decide whether they still support a proposal that allows wealthier conferences to pay athletes substantially more.

Pressure for congressional action increased even further Friday after the NCAA suffered two significant courtroom defeats. The rulings involved the NCAA’s new eligibility policy. That rule would allow most Division I athletes five years to complete five seasons of competition.

Following those decisions, NCAA President Charlie Baker renewed his call for congressional action. He said college sports leaders should immediately support passage of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act. Frustration also reached coaches across the country. UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley expressed his concerns on social media. The two-time national champion described the current college sports landscape as chaotic and urged leaders to fix the system.

College athletics continues to change at a rapid pace through NIL deals, revenue sharing, transfer rules, and legal challenges. Friday’s agreement does not guarantee new federal law. Nevertheless, it gives lawmakers their strongest opportunity yet to establish nationwide rules before Congress leaves for its summer break.