SEC and Big Ten Back College Sports Bill as Senate Deadline Nears

The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten agreed Friday night, July 31, to support the Protect College Sports Act as currently drafted, reviving a bipartisan college-sports bill that had appeared headed for failure. Their endorsement gives the measure a clearer path toward the 60 votes needed to end Senate debate, but it does not guarantee a vote or passage.

Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., are seeking action before the Senate heads for its scheduled summer break. The immediate practical target is Friday, August 7, though that date is not a statutory expiration deadline for the bill.

What changed

The SEC and Big Ten had said in a joint statement issued June 2 that they did not support the bill as drafted. The conferences raised concerns about state-law conflicts, enforcement and revenue-sharing provisions.

Their new position followed last-minute negotiations focused in part on third-party name, image and likeness deals and the associated entities that arrange payments between athletes and schools. AP reported that the conferences sought stronger language ensuring that qualifying third-party agreements would be genuine outside deals rather than arrangements tied to schools’ multimedia-rights partners.

What the revised framework would do

Under the framework described by AP, schools would receive a proposed $27.5 million allocation to retain players, alongside the $21.3 million revenue-sharing cap already in effect under the House settlement framework. AP reported that the proposed allocation could replace payments from associated entities that had been allowed above the cap. The precise relationship between the bill and the House settlement remains unresolved.

The legislation would establish national rules in areas that now involve a mix of NCAA policy, court orders, state laws and conference practices. The bill text addresses third-party NIL arrangements, transfers, eligibility, athlete representation in college-sports governance and medical and scholarship protections. It also would require participating institutions to maintain at least the number of grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for non-revenue sports, including women’s and Olympic sports, that they provided during the 2024-25 academic year.

For athletes and families, the practical effect would depend on the final language and implementation. A national framework could make transfer and eligibility rules more consistent, while the proposed retention allocation could give schools another tool to keep players from leaving. The conference endorsement itself creates no immediate change to eligibility, NIL rights, scholarships or payments.

Where the legislation stands

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced the Protect College Sports Act by a 19-9 vote on June 18 and sent it to the full Senate. The measure has not passed the full Senate or the House.

Even if senators reach a procedural agreement and approve the bill, it would face another hurdle in the House. The sponsors also must address opposition from senators including Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and determine whether the revised terms retain support from smaller conferences.

Questions still open

The main financial question is how the proposed $27.5 million retention allocation would fit with the House settlement’s hard-cap structure. AP described the current cap as $21.3 million for this school year, based on a percentage of certain athletic-department revenues.

The future role of the College Sports Commission is another unresolved issue. AP reported that the commission’s current work centers heavily on reviewing third-party NIL deals, which could become less central if the revised framework limits or replaces some associated-entity payments. The bill’s final language, its relationship to the settlement and the scope of enforcement authority remain unsettled.

What to watch next

The immediate test is whether Senate leaders schedule action before the August 7 target and whether Cruz and Cantwell can secure enough commitments to overcome debate. Readers should watch for final legislative language, the positions of holdout senators, responses from smaller conferences, the House’s reaction and clarification about the College Sports Commission.

Sources

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