The U.S. Senate voted 77-22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), a federal bill aimed at reshaping college athletics. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives, where it faces political opposition and a tight timeline before the new Congress convenes in January. If not passed during the lame-duck session, the process would restart.

Sen. Ted Cruz, Cruz emphasized the bipartisan vote as essential to preserving college sports, noting President Trump’s eagerness to sign the bill. NCAA President Charlie Baker praised student-athlete advocacy for driving the bill forward.

The PCSA grants the NCAA an antitrust exemption to enforce athlete payment caps and transfer limits, including one penalty-free transfer and a five-year competition window. It also caps Power 4 conference membership at 20 schools and delays a three-year waiting period for conference jumps until 2031. The bill increases the direct payment cap to athletes from 21.5 million to roughly 49 million annually, with 5 million reserved for nonrevenue sports.

Senators debated amendments, including a defeated proposal to cap coach pay at 5 million, which Senator Cory Booker criticized as selling out athletes. The bill seeks to stabilize conference realignment economics while expanding athlete compensation opportunities. If the bill does not pass the House during the lame-duck session before the new Congress convenes in January, the entire legislative process would have to start from the beginning.

If the bill does not pass the House during the lame-duck session before the new Congress convenes in January, the entire legislative process would have to start from the beginning.