Senate approves sweeping college sports measure
The gist
The Senate approved the Protect College Sports Act 77 to 22 on Sept 28, 2026.
It would replace state laws with one federal rulebook for athlete pay and transfers.
How it unfolded
- Jul 2021The NCAA lifted restrictions on athletes receiving revenue from the use of their name, image and likeness.
- 2025An antitrust settlement allowed colleges to pay athletes directly, up to $20.5 million per school, with the cap tied to 22% of revenue from the biggest conferences.
- Sep 28, 2026The Senate approved the Protect College Sports Act 77 to 22 after nearly six hours of debate and seven amendments, one of its last major actions before the midterm elections.