WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, which would restore order in college athletics by creating enforceable national rules, protecting real Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, preserving fair competition, safeguarding student athletes, and ensuring fans do not lose the teams, rivalries, and traditions they love:

“College athletics are currently the Wild Wild West, and the lack of clear, consistent guidelines at the federal level is hurting athletes, universities, and fans,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would restore order in college sports by implementing much-needed guardrails surrounding eligibility, transfers, NIL rights, and revenue-sharing to better protect schools and players both on and off the field.”  

Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) are leading this legislation in the Senate.

Background:
The bipartisan Protect College Sports Act would:

• Set one national rulebook for eligibility, transfers, recruiting, NIL, and revenue sharing;
• Establish clear eligibility rules by adopting the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) new five-year eligibility rule, allowing for one free transfer with commonsense exceptions;
• Stabilize rosters by creating enforceable transfer windows, anti-tampering rules, and an agent registry;
• Protect rivalries by blocking the formation of a Super League and maintaining traditional out-of-conference games;
• Provide limited antitrust protection to the NCAA and College Sports Commission to enforce a revenue-sharing cap, which ensures a level playing field and competitive balance;
• Guarantee student scholarships and 10-year degree completion assistance;
• And protect women in sports by preserving Title IX protections, prohibiting cuts to women’s and Olympic-sport programs, and upholding Texas state law that prohibits men from competing in women’s sports.

More information on the bill can be found here.