The Southeastern and Big Ten conferences have reached a deal with federal lawmakers to support the Protect College Sports Act, marking a major turning point for legislation intended to regulate the college sports industry. The conferences' presidents and chancellors voted Friday night to back the bill, ending a period of intense negotiations and providing the bipartisan measure with a renewed path toward a Senate vote.
Intense Negotiations and White House Pressure
The decision to support the legislation follows a period of rapid negotiations between U.S. senators and conference executives. According to reporting by Yahoo Sports, the move comes after the conferences missed two consecutive deadlines set by lawmakers to determine their position on a revised version of the bill. The urgency of the negotiations was heightened by aggressive involvement from the White House; President Donald Trump engaged with stakeholders through intermediaries on Thursday evening, expressing his intent to publicly condemn leaders of the Big Ten and SEC if they continued to oppose the measure.
Closing the Revenue-Share Loophole
A central component of the new deal involves addressing concerns regarding the circumvention of athlete revenue-share caps. To prevent schools from using third-party entities to bypass spending limits, the bill includes language requiring school-affiliated sponsors and apparel brands to enter an attestation process. This process will certify that name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements are legitimate, not directed by the school, and that compensation does not originate from the institution. This is similar to existing language in the bill regarding NIL deals from multimedia rights partners like Playfly and Learfield.
Expanded Revenue-Sharing Caps
The updated legislation significantly alters the financial framework for student-athletes. While the original cap was set at $21.3 million, the revised bill establishes a total cap of $48.8 million. This total includes a $22.5 million retention pool that allows schools to exceed the base cap to retain players, plus an additional $5 million designated specifically for women and non-revenue sports. This structure aims to align with current market trends and addresses long-standing complaints from the SEC and Big Ten regarding the ability to control costs while managing player compensation.
New Standards for Collegiate Athletics
The Protect College Sports Act also introduces several other regulatory measures. The bill seeks to grant the NCAA and conferences a limited antitrust exemption to re-implement a one-time transfer exception and standardize a five-year eligibility policy. Additionally, the legislation bans professional athletes from returning to college and establishes an agent registry with a maximum fee of 5%. The bill also includes the 'Lane Kiffin Rule,' which prohibits coaches from leaving their teams before a season has concluded.
Conference Expansion and Stability
The legislation also addresses the potential for 'superconferences' by capping power conference membership at 19 schools. Any programs moving between power leagues would be required to operate as an independent entity for five years. This provision has faced opposition from several institutions, including Clemson, Miami, Florida State, and North Carolina, which have expressed concerns regarding the impact on conference expansion and stability.
Legislative Hurdles in the Senate
Despite the momentum gained from the SEC and Big Ten support, the bill faces a crowded legislative calendar. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stated that while conversations regarding NIL are trending in the right direction, he did not guarantee a floor vote this week. Thune indicated the bill may rank behind other Senate priorities, including a bipartisan spending measure to fund the government until December 11, a Russia sanctions bill, and various executive branch nominees. Senate aides noted that a formal procedural step, known as cloture, would likely need to be filed by Monday to facilitate a vote later in the week.
A Push for Federal Oversight
The push for federal regulation comes as the NCAA faces ongoing legal challenges. The NCAA recently lost two court rulings regarding a rule that allows most Division I athletes to complete five seasons of eligibility. NCAA President Charlie Baker has urged the immediate passage of the Protect College Sports Act, stating it is long past time for leaders to act. The bipartisan effort has been spearheaded by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who have worked to incorporate concessions to appease the major conferences.
