The US Senate approved a bipartisan bill on Monday, 28 September 2026, to regulate college sports, in an effort to address what has been described as "chaos" within the industry. The Protect College Sports Act passed with an overwhelming 77-22 vote.
The legislation aims to establish national regulations for payments to college athletes for their name, image, and likeness, and to govern how often they can transfer between schools. It would also provide the NCAA with new authority to enforce these rules, alongside limited antitrust protections.
The bill follows a 2025 court settlement that allowed colleges to directly pay players. This legislation would codify that settlement into law while introducing new guardrails, including a revenue cap allowing schools to share up to $21.5 million with players, with an additional $27.5 million possible through a retention fund for some institutions. It also proposes restricting player transfers to one "free" move over five years, with some exceptions, and limiting total eligibility to five years.
However, the bill faces opposition from critics who argue it does not go far enough to protect athletes or curb the large sums of money flowing to coaches, colleges, and conferences. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy stated the bill "doesn't fix the broader problems." The bill's future remains uncertain, as it still needs to pass the House of Representatives, which is currently in recess until after the November elections.