SEC and Big Ten Back Protect College Sports Act

A landmark federal bill to regulate college sports gained critical momentum on Friday, July 31, 2026, after the nation's two most powerful athletic conferences, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Big Ten, agreed to support the legislation. Their endorsement, following weeks of intense negotiations, clears a major hurdle for the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act just days before the U.S. Senate is scheduled to begin its summer recess.

The bill, introduced in May and sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), aims to establish a national framework for college athletics. It addresses several areas of recent upheaval, including athlete transfers, name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation, and the financial structure of athletic programs. Key provisions would limit athletes to one free transfer without losing eligibility, cap agent fees, and enforce a revenue-sharing cap established by the recent House v. NCAA settlement. The legislation also includes a so-called "Lane Kiffin Rule," restricting coaches from leaving for another head coaching position during the same season.

For months, the SEC and Big Ten had been the...