The Protect College Sports Act passes the U.S. Senate

The United States Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act by a sweeping majority, 77-22, on Monday, Sept. 28.

Shortly after the passage of the act, Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill released a statement online in support of the bipartisan legislation.

“The Senate's overwhelming passage of the Protect College Sports Act represents an important step toward providing stability and consistent national standards in college athletics,” Gill said. “The Sun Belt and its 14 member institutions appreciate the work of the bipartisan coalition – led by Senator Cruz and Cantwell – that has brought the legislation to this point and will continue to engage with lawmakers as deliberations begin in the House of Representatives.”

The Protect College Sports Act, or PCSA, prohibits institutions, conferences or the NCAA from restricting student-athletes from entering NIL agreements. Still, it requires athletes to report any NIL agreements worth more than $600 to their institution.

It also requires agents for the student-athletes to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.

To gain support from the SEC and the Big Ten, the bill underwent revisions over the summer. Part of the revisions would limit the Power Four conferences, those that report more than $700 million in revenue, to 20 members.

Any team that wants to move to a new conference would have to spend three years as an independent in the first six years of the legislation’s implementation. However, there is no time requirement for a Group of Six school or an existing independent program to move to a Power Four conference.

Within the first six years of the legislation’s implementation, any Power Four team wanting to move to a new league must spend three years as an independent. There would not be a time requirement to add a Group of Six or an independent program.

“The bipartisan Senate passage of the Protect College Sports Act represents an important step toward establishing a clear and durable national framework for college athletics,” said the SEC in its statement. “We look forward to working with members of the House of Representatives to advance legislation that protects student-athletes, provides consistent national standards for universities and conferences, supports women’s and Olympic sports and strengthens the long-term future of college athletics.”

The PCSA would prevent institutions from reducing the sports they offer for nearly the first decade of its enactment. It would require larger institutions, those who report $80 million or more in athletic revenue, to maintain the same number of sports that did not report a net revenue as it did in the 2024-25 academic year.

It also limits student-athletes to one transfer in their career, with another transfer causing the athlete to lose a year of eligibility. Known as the “Lane Kiffin Rule,” the PCSA prevents coaches from leaving their school for another while the original team’s season is still underway.

The bill is not only receiving support from all Power Four conferences but also from the Group of Six and FCS conferences.

“The Protect College Sports Act provides meaningful health, safety, medical and academic protections while preserving opportunities for athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness,” said Big South Commissioner Sherika Montgomery. “It also protects the opportunity to compete at all levels, earn a degree and experience the full value of a college education.”

The PCSA is now moving to the House of Representatives for a vote, which is in recess until after the November midterm elections. If it passes the House, it will go to President Trump for approval, who has been a strong advocate for the bill.