Senate passes Cruz's college sports bill, but House recess stalls final vote

Key points

• The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22 on Monday night, with the bill now moving to the House, which is in recess until after the November midterms.
• The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell, seeks to regulate NIL deals, limit athlete transfers to one per career, and establish permanent revenue ceilings with annual inflation adjustments.
• The bill includes an antitrust exemption for the NCAA and athletic conferences, a provision that has drawn significant opposition from labor unions and civil rights organizations.
• President Donald Trump has publicly supported the bill, calling it a 'really big deal' that will 'save college sports,' and has urged the House to return to Capitol Hill to pass it.
• Critics, including the NAACP and AFL-CIO, argue the bill prioritizes the interests of wealthy conferences over athletes, while supporters like Nick Saban and Deion Sanders cite the need for stability in college athletics.

Background

The Protect College Sports Act has been a contentious piece of legislation for months. It advanced through the Senate Commerce Committee in June and faced significant debate over NIL caps and transfer rules. In September, the bill gained momentum after major conferences like the Big Ten and SEC endorsed it, following revisions to the revenue-sharing framework. The bill's passage in the Senate marks a significant step, but its future in the House remains uncertain due to the midterm recess.

How outlets are covering it

The Texas Tribune and ABC News highlight the bipartisan support for the bill, noting the 77-22 vote and endorsements from major conferences and President Trump. The Washington Post focuses on Ted Cruz's role as a bipartisan dealmaker, contrasting his current legislative success with his earlier reputation as a Republican gadfly. ABC News and the Texas Tribune both note opposition from labor and civil rights groups, with the NAACP and AFL-CIO arguing the bill grants too much power to the NCAA and does not adequately protect athletes. The Texas Tribune also highlights concerns from some lawmakers about the bill's sweeping scope and the potential for the NCAA to micromanage athlete relationships.

Why it matters

The passage of the Protect College Sports Act in the Senate is a significant step toward creating a federal framework for college athletics, which could impact NIL deals, athlete compensation, and conference realignment. However, the bill's future in the House is uncertain due to the midterm recess, and opposition from labor and civil rights groups could pose additional hurdles. The outcome of this legislation could have long-term implications for the structure and governance of college sports in the United States.

What to watch

The bill must now clear the House, which is in recess until after the November midterms. President Trump has urged the House to return to Capitol Hill to pass the bill, but it is unlikely that the House will be called back early. The bill's fate will depend on the political landscape after the midterms and the level of opposition from labor and civil rights groups.