Key Senators Cruz, Cantwell Look to Break College Sports Logjam in Congress with a Bipartisan Bill
The measure would limit athletes to one free transfer, add a five-year eligibility window and give the NCAA narrow antitrust protection.
- After years of legislative stalling, Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., are set to introduce a bipartisan college sports bill within days that would limit players to one unrestricted transfer per career and impose a hard salary cap on athletes.
- College sports has grappled with rising player costs and an out-of-control transfer portal threatening smaller women's and Olympic sports, while NIL deals from booster collectives have allowed schools to circumvent salary-sharing limits set by the House v. NCAA settlement.
- The bill grants a limited antitrust exemption allowing the industry to self-regulate player eligibility and transfers, preempts state-by-state NIL regulations, and includes a "Lane Kiffin Rule" prohibiting midseason coaching changes; pooling TV rights could generate more than $9 billion with guardrails protecting women's and Olympic sports scholarships.
- Cantwell said she and Cruz teamed on the legislation because the college sports system is "in a bit of chaos," though SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey objected to endorsing an unseen bill and both he and Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti withheld support.
- The bill needs 60 votes to clear the Senate, with momentum critical before August recess and midterm elections; Cantwell emphasized the legislation protects all athletes, not merely the "1% of athletes who go on to have a professional career.
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2 senators look to break college sports logjam in Congress with a bipartisan bill
“This is a stability bill, not just an NIL bill,” Se. Ted Cruz said, referencing the name, image and likeness payments that have led to football rosters with $30 million payrolls and reshaped the industry.
Sens. Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell Reach Deal on College Sports Legislation
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced sweeping legislation aimed at reshaping the future of college athletics and bringing stability to the rapidly changing landscape of collegiate sports. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) unveiled on May 27 the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, a proposal designed to address growing concerns surrounding athlete compensation, transfer rules, conference realignment, and long-term at…
Senators introduce bill aimed at reining in college sports ‘chaos’: What’s in it?
Two key senators involved in a long-simmering debate over fixing college sports will introduce a bipartisan bill designed to break a congressional logjam that would regulate payments to players, limit them to one “free” transfer over their careers and create a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to restrict coach movement during the season.
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