College Sports Bill Aims to Navigate Antitrust Challenges Amid Conference Pushback

• Dan Murphy

  

  Dan Murphy

  ESPN Staff Writer

  Dan Murphy is a reporter on ESPN’s investigative and enterprise team. Reach him at daniel.murphy@espn.com.

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By Dan Murphy

July 23, 2026, 06:16 PM ET

A sweeping legislative initiative designed to establish antitrust exemptions for college sports governance has stalled, with no full Senate vote anticipated before Congress’s August break. The Protect College Sports Act, a 100+ page proposal, would permit the NCAA to enforce spending limits, transfer regulations, and eligibility rules without competitive challenges. Its progress hinges on resolving disputes with major conferences such as the SEC and Big Ten.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a chief sponsor of the bill, described it as the “last, best hope” to stabilize college athletics governance post-2021 Supreme Court rulings that limited institutions’ ability to cap athlete revenue. However, time is running short as the Senate faces a narrow window to pass the bill before the November elections. The dual goals of antitrust immunity for the NCAA and preserving conference-driven media rights have sparked tensions. Lawmakers are actively revising language to address concerns, particularly from the SEC and Big Ten, which fear provisions could erode their autonomy and financial advantages.

The proposed legislation would allow schools to pool media rights collectively but remains voluntary for conferences. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey emphasized resistance to mandating such arrangements, stating, “We need to see language” before proceeding. Over 10 contested elements, including conference expansion limits and scheduling rules, continue to divide stakeholders. Senator John Thune, Senate Majority Leader, indicated last week that progress seems unlikely, reinforcing doubts about the bill’s legislative viability.

At the center of objections is the bill’s prohibition on future conference expansion, which both conferences oppose. Discussions indicate ongoing negotiations to modify the expanded anti-expansion clauses. Simultaneously, efforts to reframe media rights provisions—balancing centralized enforcement with conference flexibility—are underway. Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., a co-sponsor, highlighted the need for collaboration: “Changes are being tested to achieve bipartisan consensus.”

Without legislative resolution, amateur athletics risks prolonged uncertainty as competitors increasingly challenge NCAA authority. The interplay of judicial precedents, state legislation, and federal proposals continues to define the landscape, with key players awaiting clarity on adjustments to the stalled bill.

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