The Protect College Sports Act of 2026—the bill introduced Wednesday by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas)—has already produced another galvanizing effect before bipartisanship: uniting college athlete advocates in vehement opposition.
The legislation, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), would, among other things, codify and extend the revenue-sharing cap established in the House v. NCAA settlement while offering the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption over its rules establishing athlete eligibility and transfer rules.
On Thursday morning, a roster of organizations and individuals promoting college athletes’ rights lined up to formally condemn what they characterized as Capitol Hill’s latest attempt to suppress players’ economic freedom in the name of stability.
Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association, called the Cantwell-Cruz bill a “bailout” designed to “put a predatory industry above the law.”
Athletes.org said it “attempts to codify NCAA-supported restrictions limiting college athletes’ freedom, mobility and ability to earn their true market value.”
