Ted Cruz’s bipartisan college sports bill stalled in the Senate early Saturday during an all-night pre-recess session, pushing a crucial vote to September as lawmakers ran out of time before their summer break.
The Protect College Sports Act, co-sponsored by Cruz and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, failed to reach the Senate floor despite hopes it would pass before Congress adjourned. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the chamber has now scheduled the bill for consideration next month, with debate set to begin no earlier than September 15 and no later than September 23.
The measure aims to overhaul college sports by creating national rules for athlete compensation, transfers, and spending. Under the bill, schools would be allowed to share revenue of up to $48.8 million among all players across their athletic program, according to ESPN. The bill would also allow athletes to earn money through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals while restricting third-party arrangements that have fueled spiraling costs in college athletics.
The bill would limit student-athletes to one unrestricted transfer without penalty, according to the Senate Commerce Committee. It also includes protections for women’s and Olympic sports, preventing major colleges from dropping those programs and setting a maximum salary cap of $27.5 million across athletic departments.
The bill’s path has been turbulent since its introduction in late May. It initially failed to gain support from the Big Ten and SEC conferences, the two most powerful athletic organizations, but those conferences reversed course in late July after negotiations. That support proved crucial—without it, the bill faced near-certain defeat.
However, new obstacles emerged as the vote approached. Senators from SEC states, including Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Josh Hawley of Missouri, remained skeptical of the measure. The Congressional Black Caucus and the AFL-CIO also came out against it. Amendments on unrelated topics—including conference realignment rules, transgender athlete protections, and NCAA liability—began piling up, further complicating passage.
The packed Senate calendar added to the delays. The chamber faced votes on a short-term government funding bill and the narrow confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, leaving little time for the college sports legislation.
Cruz expressed confidence the bill would pass in September. “My colleagues and I have worked hard to end the chaos,” he said, predicting it would receive the support of 60 or more senators—the threshold needed for passage. Cantwell said she looked forward to the bill’s passage, calling it essential to protect women’s and Olympic sports.
If the Senate approves the bill, it still faces significant hurdles in the House. The lower chamber is more narrowly divided and has resisted athlete-friendly sports legislation in the past, spending months unsuccessfully trying to advance its own less-favorable SCORE Act.
Sources
- ESPN — Senate vote timing and bill provisions on NIL revenue sharing
- Senate Commerce Committee — Bill details on transfer limits and revenue caps
- Associated Press — Senate session details and senator statements
- The Hill — Bill status and September timeline
- Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics — Debate schedule dates
