Citing ‘critical issues,’ SEC, Big Ten withhold support for bipartisan college sports bill
The conferences said the bill leaves key issues unresolved as lawmakers push federal rules for NIL deals, transfers and revenue sharing.
- On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, former Alabama football coach Nick Saban testified before a Senate committee supporting the "Protect College Sports Act," a bipartisan bill creating national rules for college athletics and regulating name, image, and likeness deals.
- Washington Senator Maria Cantwell and Texas Senator Ted Cruz introduced the legislation to curb "pay-for-play" practices, with Saban urging lawmakers to "tap the brakes" on a system he said has drifted toward money over athlete development.
- Saban warned that unlimited transfers and excessive spending on football and basketball rosters threaten Olympic and women's sports; over 100 programs and more than 1,000 athletic scholarships have been eliminated since 2023.
- Arguing the bill "leaves critical issues unresolved," the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten oppose the legislation; Cruz remains confident it can pass Congress despite mounting resistance.
- Additional hurdles emerged as the Congressional Black Caucus requested a pause over voting rights concerns, while Senator Bernie Moreno voiced "grave concerns" about the bill's lack of protections for biological women in sports.
129 Articles
129 Articles
How to bring college sports back from the brink
College sports are a mess. The House v. NCAA settlement cleared the way for college athletes to be paid for their labor, name, image and likeness. That was long overdue. However, the unintended consequences created a landscape of unlimited transfers, pay-for-play, unenforceable rules and a toothless NCAA. We are rapidly headed toward the untenable paradigm of mega conferences, have-and-have-not colleges, professional college players who are unr…
Sen. Fischer takes friendly shot at Nick Saban over his 'lack of wins' against Nebraska in the 90s
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer took a friendly shot at former Alabama football head coach Nick Saban on Wednesday during his testimony in support of a college sports bill. While Fischer was on the mic, she asked Saban about his record against the Nebraska football team during Tom Osborne’s tenure as head coach. After agreeing with Fischer...
ABC FOX Montana
Bipartisan bill aims to protect women's and Olympic college sports
WASHINGTON, DC — College sports could soon be getting a major overhaul. Lawmakers in DC are pushing a bipartisan bill --- aiming to address growing inequality and protect women's and
Here's why Nick Saban and Notre Dame's Pete Bevacqua are wrong about NIL ruining college football
The future of college football is once again up for debate, with prominent voices from major conferences and teams giving their opinions on NIL as the federal government works through potential legislation to regulate the sport.Wednesday provided an opportunity for one of college football's most important figures, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, to give Congress his thoughts directly. Saban made several accurate and valuable p…
Helena Independent Record
Senators urge quick action to halt college sports decay
WASHINGTON — Senators and college officials on Wednesday urged swift action on a bipartisan measure that aims to overhaul a college athletics system they say hemorrhages money and hinders student-athletes — even as two powerful conferences said they would seek…
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