Senator Ted Cruz has expressed strong confidence that the Protect College Sports Act will move through the Senate this week. The legislation received a notable boost last Friday when the Big Ten and SEC publicly endorsed the bill, providing necessary momentum following months of complex negotiations. Cruz, who authored the bipartisan proposal, confirmed he has maintained direct communication with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and President Donald Trump to ensure the chamber stays in session until a vote occurs.
Despite this optimism, the path to a final floor vote remains difficult. The text of the bill was not finalized as of late Monday, and the Senate calendar is currently crowded with competing legislative priorities before the scheduled August recess. Senate aides note that the procedural requirements for cloture could potentially delay a vote until the end of the week, putting the bill’s timeline in a precarious position.
Cruz envisions a specific outcome for the legislation this autumn. He expressed hope that President Trump will sign the bill into law during a live broadcast of a college football game later this season. The proposal seeks to provide an antitrust exemption that would allow the NCAA and its member schools to manage athlete payments and transfers, an effort now supported by a coalition of nearly 30 athletic conferences and major professional sports leagues.
The bill includes a key provision regarding associated entities, intended to prevent schools from using corporate sponsorships and multimedia partners to circumvent revenue-share caps. With the revenue-share cap now set at $48.8 million, the coalition argues this legislation is the only viable way to address the current crisis in college athletics. If the bill fails to clear the Senate before the upcoming recess, the opportunity for legislative action will likely diminish as members pivot to federal budget issues and election campaigns.