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119th Congress

S. 4668

Protect College Sports Act of 2026

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor
Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Introduced
Jun 2, 2026
Policy area
Sports and Recreation
Committees
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Official text
Engrossed in Senate · Congress.gov page

Cosponsors (9)

Original cosponsors (3)

Added later (6)

Summary

Summary by the Congressional Research Service· describes the “Reported to Senate” version

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 from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment. The bill generally prohibits Division I conferences from reducing the number of varsity or Olympic sports teams that a member institution must sponsor. Specifically, large institutions ($80 million or more in annual athletics revenue) must offer and maintain at least as many grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for sports that do not generate positive net revenue as the institution provided during academic year 2024-25. The bill provides for a waiver of this requirement under certain circumstances of financial hardship and the requirements expire nine years after the enactment of the bill. Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Roll-call votes

DateVoteResultYour members
Sep 28, 2026
Senate #250		S. 4668, as amendedBill PassedSet your home to see
Sep 28, 2026
Senate #249		Booker Amdt. No. 6835Amendment RejectedSet your home to see
Sep 28, 2026
Senate #248		Booker Amdt. No. 6805Amendment RejectedSet your home to see
Sep 28, 2026
Senate #247		Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760Amendment RejectedSet your home to see
Sep 28, 2026
Senate #246		Paul Amdt. No. 6758Amendment RejectedSet your home to see
Sep 28, 2026
Senate #245		Baldwin Amdt. No. 6828Amendment Agreed toSet your home to see
Sep 24, 2026
Senate #243		Motion to Invoke Cloture: S. 4668, as AmendedCloture Motion Agreed toSet your home to see
Sep 24, 2026
Senate #242		Amdt. No. 6776Amendment Agreed toSet your home to see
Sep 22, 2026
Senate #240		Motion to Invoke Cloture: Cruz Amdt. No. 6776Cloture Motion Agreed toSet your home to see
Sep 17, 2026
Senate #236		Motion to Proceed to S. 4668Motion to Proceed Agreed toSet your home to see
Sep 15, 2026
Senate #235		Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to S. 4668Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed toSet your home to see

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