Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act, Setting National Rules for College Athletics

The U. S. Senate approved the Protect College Sports Act with a 77‑22 vote, a bipartisan effort led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R‑TX) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D‑WA). The bill would create a uniform national framework for college athletics, covering name‑image‑likeness (NIL) deals, athlete compensation, recruiting and tampering guardrails, eligibility, the transfer portal, and antitrust protections for the NCAA. President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to move the bill forward before the summer recess, saying it was essential to prevent further chaos in college sports. The act now heads to the House, where a vote could bring it to Trump’s desk for signing. Opponents, including Sen. Chris Murphy and a group of Republican senators, argue the bill would strip athletes of bargaining power and override state laws on transgender participation.