US Senators Cruz and Cantwell push bipartisan Protect College Sports Act

Senators Ted Cruz (R‑TX) and Maria Cantwell (D‑WA) announced a bipartisan bill called the Protect College Sports Act intended to bring new federal rules to NCAA athletics.

The legislation would limit athletes to a single transfer portal entry during their college career, set a five‑year eligibility limit, impose a cap on athletic spending that the College Sports Commission could enforce, and allow schools to pool television‑rights revenue. It also bans athletes who have ever been compensated as professional players from NCAA competition and creates a “Lane Kiffin Rule” that bars coaches from departing or being hired mid‑season. A student‑athlete ombudsman position would oversee compliance.

Proponents say the bill addresses compensation disputes, antitrust lawsuits and financial imbalances between power conferences such as the SEC and Big Ten and smaller programs. The measure has backing from the White House, the NCAA and several other senators, but it has no scheduled hearing and faces uncertain congressional progress.