Last month, the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act passed its first test when the Senate Commerce Committee voted to recommend it to the Senate floor for a full vote.
The legislation certainly had momentum. Since being introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.), and co-sponsored by Eric Schmitt (R., Mo.) and Chris Coons (D., Del.), it has gained two more co-sponsors in Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D., Vt.). It also won endorsements from several FBS leagues and the NCAA, and even got a vote of confidence from U.S. President Donald Trump.
But it remains unclear whether the bill will reach the Senate floor before Aug. 7, when the chamber goes into its monthlong August recess. Hurdles span from external critiques to legislative priorities. Bill sponsors have been embroiled in negotiations to placate the Big Ten and SEC, who came out against the bill and still stand against it, and to secure 60 votes. Meanwhile, several other Senate to-do list items are competing for airtime.
If senators can’t pass the bill by Aug. 7, the legislation is considered dead—at least until it could be reintroduced before the next Congress in 2027. The college sports industry will go another school year without legislative assistance.
