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Ivory CoastSenate Passes Protect College Sports Act to Reshape NCAA Rules
The U.S. Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act, a major bill that would limit transfers, cap conference sizes, and increase player pay limits.
Senate Approves Landmark College Sports Bill
The U.S. Senate voted 77-22 on Monday night to pass the Protect College Sports Act. This federal bill aims to reshape the college sports industry and bring order to college athletics. Senator Ted Cruz supported the bill, stating that "this bill puts an end to the chaos plaguing college athletics."
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives. However, House members will not vote on any bills until after the midterm elections in November. If the House does not pass the bill before a new Congress starts in January, the entire process must begin again.
Major Changes to Player Pay and Transfers
If the bill becomes law, it will grant the NCAA an antitrust exemption. This will allow the association to enforce rules and cap how much teams can pay athletes. Under the bill, athletes can only transfer once during their college careers without facing a penalty. It also enforces a five year limit for athletes to compete, starting when they finish high school or turn 19.
The bill also increases the amount of money schools can pay directly to players. The current limit of about 21.5 million dollars would rise to roughly 49 million dollars, with 5 million dollars of that set aside for non revenue and Olympic sports. Senator Maria Cantwell said the bill is a way to stop the runaway arms race of spending in college sports.
Realignment Limits and Rejected Rules for Coaches
Conference realignment would also face new limits. Power 4 leagues would be capped at 20 schools each. Currently, the Big Ten has 18 schools and the SEC has 16. Any school that switches to a different Power 4 conference would have to spend three years without any conference affiliation. This waiting period would end in 2031.
The Senate rejected an amendment that would have capped coach salaries at 5 million dollars per year and limited how often they can change jobs. Senator Cory Booker criticized this decision, arguing that the bill fails to protect athletes while allowing coach salaries to remain unrestricted. Another amendment to increase an injury medical care fund for former athletes from 100 million dollars to 200 million dollars failed by a single vote.
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