By Garrett Dollin and Will Trubic
The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act in a bipartisan 77-22 vote on Sept. 28, sending the legislation to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration as lawmakers continue efforts to address major changes reshaping college athletics.
If approved by the House and signed by the president, the bill would establish federal rules governing several areas of college sports; this includes name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation; athlete revenue sharing; transfer regulations; health and safety protections and recruiting practices.
The legislation comes as college athletics continue to undergo significant transformation. Since NCAA restrictions on NIL compensation were eased in 2021, athletes have gained new opportunities to earn money through endorsement deals, sponsorship agreements and appearances. Expanded transfer opportunities and legal challenges to NCAA rules have created a more complex environment for schools, athletes and conferences.
One of the bill’s central provisions is the creation of a national NIL framework. The legislation would establish a federal right for athletes to receive NIL compensation, along with disclosure requirements and a national database to improve transparency.
Supporters argue that a federal standard would replace the current patchwork of state laws and institutional policies that govern NIL activity across the country.
The legislation also addresses athlete compensation and revenue sharing, an issue that has become increasingly prominent at the Division I level. Under the bill, qualifying Division I institutions would be permitted to share revenue generated through media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships with student-athletes.
The bill establishes revenue-sharing guidelines, including retention funds and oversight mechanisms. Supporters argue the framework recognizes athletes’ growing financial role while creating greater consistency across programs.
For Slippery Rock University, a Division II institution, the direct financial impact would be limited because many of the bill’s compensation provisions specifically target Division I athletics. However, developments at the highest levels of college sports often influence recruiting, athlete expectations and NCAA policymaking across all divisions.
Another significant area addressed by the legislation involves the future of sports that generate less revenue. Certain Division I institutions meeting specific standards would be required to maintain scholarship opportunities and roster spots for women’s and Olympic sports based on participation levels from the 2024-25 academic year.
Supporters say the provision would protect sports facing pressure from revenue-sharing obligations. While it would not directly apply to SRU, the issue remains relevant given the university’s broad athletic offerings.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., one of the bill’s lead sponsors, argued during Senate debate that college athletics needs greater stability.
“We need to stop stealing money out of college [and] university institutions for education, for tuition, for professors, and putting it into an arms race on sports,” Cantwell said. “It is putting a pin in the problems to stabilize the loss of women’s and Olympic [sports] and to create the opportunity to discuss the larger structure moving forward.”
The legislation also includes athlete health and academic protections. Select Division I institutions would cover specified out-of-pocket medical expenses for sports-related injuries and illnesses for up to five years after eligibility ends. The bill would additionally provide scholarship protections designed to give athletes more flexibility to complete their degrees.
Transfer regulations also receive attention in the Senate-approved bill. The legislation would generally allow an athlete to transfer once between four-year institutions without losing or delaying athletic eligibility. Additional provisions outline circumstances under which athletes may be granted further transfer opportunities.
Transfer activity has become a defining feature of college athletics. While most visible in Division I football and basketball, transfers affect programs throughout the NCAA and have become important to roster management and recruiting, including at Slippery Rock.
The bill also addresses issues involving sports agents, recruiting practices and athlete representation. It includes provisions aimed at limiting predatory agent behavior, improving disclosure standards and increasing athlete involvement in governance discussions related to college sports.
Additionally, the measure does not classify college athletes as employees, but instead remains neutral on whether student-athletes should be considered employees or non-employees under federal law.
Supporters of the legislation argue that the bill would bring structure and stability to a rapidly-changing college sports landscape. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the extent of athlete input in the legislative process and whether some provisions provide too much protection to athletic conferences and governing bodies.
For SRU, the immediate impact of the Senate vote remains limited. Nevertheless, the legislation represents one of the most significant federal efforts to regulate college athletics in recent years.
The House of Representatives must now decide whether to approve the Senate measure, modify it or pursue an alternative approach. Until that process is completed, SRU and other NCAA institutions will continue operating under existing NCAA regulations while monitoring developments in Washington.
