Senate votes 74-24 to advance bipartisan college sports regulation bill
The Senate voted 74-24 on September 15, 2026 to begin consideration of the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill that would establish a federal framework for college athlete compensation, NIL deals, transfers, and eligibility. The bill would grant the NCAA antitrust lawsuit immunity, raise the revenue-sharing salary cap to nearly $49 million per school, and create national rules replacing varying state laws. The legislation faces opposition from some Republicans, labor groups, the NAACP, and Democratic Senator Cory Booker, and the House is unlikely to take it up before its midterm recess.
- Washington Timesfirst
- The Hill+0 min
- NBC News+12 min
- Bloomberg+12 min
- ABC News+1.8 h
- Newsmax+1.9 h
- New York Times+22.1 h
- NY Post+24.6 h
- PBS NewsHour+39.8 h
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
“Senate Advances Legislation to Regulate College Sports Landscape” · The Hill, Bloomberg, PBS NewsHour