Protect College Sports Act of 2026

Summary

Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement ). First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600. The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%. The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season. Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment. Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · U.S. Senate

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Cosponsors

Recorded votes

• Vote: On the Amendment

  U.S. SenateSep 28, 2026Result: Amendment Rejected

  Voted yes (47)Voted no (52)Voted present (0)Absent (1)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 28, 2026 (On the Amendment)

• Vote: On the Amendment

  U.S. SenateSep 28, 2026Result: Amendment Agreed to

  Voted yes (96)Voted no (1)Voted present (0)Absent (3)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 28, 2026 (On the Amendment)

• Vote: On the Amendment

  U.S. SenateSep 28, 2026Result: Amendment Rejected

  Voted yes (1)Voted no (94)Voted present (0)Absent (5)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 28, 2026 (On the Amendment)

• Vote: On the Amendment

  U.S. SenateSep 28, 2026Result: Amendment Rejected

  Voted yes (49)Voted no (50)Voted present (0)Absent (1)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 28, 2026 (On the Amendment)

• Vote: On the Amendment

  U.S. SenateSep 28, 2026Result: Amendment Rejected

  Voted yes (42)Voted no (54)Voted present (0)Absent (4)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 28, 2026 (On the Amendment)

• Vote: On Passage of the Bill

  U.S. SenateSep 28, 2026Result: Bill Passed

  Voted yes (77)Voted no (22)Voted present (0)Absent (1)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 28, 2026 (On Passage of the Bill)

• Vote: On the Cloture Motion

  U.S. SenateSep 24, 2026Result: Cloture Motion Agreed to

  Voted yes (74)Voted no (25)Voted present (0)Absent (1)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 24, 2026 (On the Cloture Motion)

• Vote: On the Amendment

  U.S. SenateSep 24, 2026Result: Amendment Agreed to

  Voted yes (77)Voted no (23)Voted present (0)Absent (0)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 24, 2026 (On the Amendment)

• Vote: On the Cloture Motion

  U.S. SenateSep 22, 2026Result: Cloture Motion Agreed to

  Voted yes (70)Voted no (21)Voted present (0)Absent (9)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 22, 2026 (On the Cloture Motion)

• Vote: On the Motion to Proceed

  U.S. SenateSep 17, 2026Result: Motion to Proceed Agreed to

  Voted yes (77)Voted no (22)Voted present (0)Absent (1)

  See member positions for the vote on Sep 17, 2026 (On the Motion to Proceed)

Related bills

• H.R. 9137Protect College Sports Act of 2026Related bill

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

1. Oct 5, 2026

   Held at the desk.

2. Oct 5, 2026

   Message on Senate Action Sent to the House.

   Message on Senate action sent to the House.

   U.S. Senate

3. Oct 5, 2026

   Sent to the executive

   Received in the House.

   U.S. House of Representatives

4. Sep 28, 2026

   Considered by Senate. (consideration: cr S5021-5064)

   Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5021-5064)

   U.S. Senate

5. Sep 28, 2026

   Passed a chamber

   Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)

   U.S. Senate

Read the record

• Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.