S. 4668 · Passed Senate · Sports and Recreation

Protect College Sports Act of 2026

Sponsor: Ted Cruz (R-TX)

What it does

• Prohibits institutions, conferences, and athletic associations from restricting student athletes from entering name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements, subject to specified limitations.
• Requires student athletes to report NIL compensation exceeding $600 to their institution and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.
• Grants student athletes one transfer without loss of athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming head coach at a different institution during the same season.
• Provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.
• Prohibits institutions from providing athlete compensation that circumvents revenue-sharing limits established under the House settlement and makes those limits permanent with annual inflation adjustment.

Official 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…

Latest action

Oct 5, 2026: Held at the desk.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation