The Senate voted 77-22 to embed the House v. NCAA revenue-sharing settlement into federal law, add a temporary retention fund, cap agent fees, preempt state NIL rules, and leave tax and FAFSA treatment unchanged. The bill now moves to the House before January 3 or it dies.
Federalizes the House v. NCAA revenue-sharing cap and creates a temporary $22.5 million retention fund per school, plus up to $5 million for non-revenue sports.
Caps agent fees at 5%, requires agent registration, and preempts state NIL laws with one national rulebook.
Eligibility and roster rules: one transfer allowed without losing eligibility, five-year playing window capped at age 24, and limited antitrust protection for the NCAA.
# What the Senate passed
On September 28, 2026 the U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act by a 77-22 vote. The bill would convert the House v. NCAA settlement into federal law and impose a single national framework for how college athletes get paid, who can pay them, agent rules, eligibility limits, and certain school obligations related to injuries.
# Core changes that affect money
The bill treats large donors differently. Anyone who has given more than $50,000 to a school's athletics program is an "associated entity." NIL deals with associated entities are barred unless they serve a valid business purpose and pay market rates. That matches tests already used by the College Sports Commission and has already led to denied deals in practice.
# What families should watch about taxes and financial aid
# Agent, eligibility, and health protections
Agents would need to register and could charge no more than 5% of a deal's value. Eligibility changes include one transfer without losing eligibility and a five-year playing window with an age cap of 24. The NCAA would receive limited antitrust protection to enforce those rules.
Schools must cover out-of-pocket medical costs for sports-related injuries for five years after an athlete's final competition, and carry catastrophic injury coverage above $90,000.
# Impact on colleges, budgets, and non-athlete students
# What happens next
The bill must pass the House before January 3, 2027, or it will expire when the current Congress ends. The House is out until at least November 9 and faces competing deadlines such as government funding that expires December 11. The House previously worked on a separate college sports bill (the SCORE Act), which was pulled before action.
# Practical next steps for families and athletes
The Protect College Sports Act, which would set national rules for NIL deals, the transfer portal and more, was passed by the Senate on Monday night.
The bill, among its top priorities, hands the NCAA sweeping federal antitrust protection shielding it from lawsuits around the enforcement of its rules and caps the amount of money student athletes can be paid for their name, image and likeness.
The bill, among its top priorities, hands the NCAA sweeping federal antitrust protection shielding it from lawsuits around the enforcement of its rules and caps the amount of money student athletes can be paid for their name, image and likeness.
The bill, among its top priorities, hands the NCAA sweeping federal antitrust protection shielding it from lawsuits around the enforcement of its rules and caps the amount of money student athletes can be paid for their name, image and likeness.
The ultimate guide to the pro cycling transfer window, tracking every move across the men's and women's WorldTours
Measles Outbreak | Fatal West Nile Virus | Man Found Dead In Restaurant Vent | Music Festival | Schools Remove Sexually Explicit Book
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.