Protect College Sports Act - UPDATE!
September 29, 2026
If you told me five years ago, I’d spend a Monday night watching C-SPAN until about midnight, I would have told you that you were crazy. If you added in that it would somehow be related of my job... I would have thought you were psychotic.
But here we are. That’s exactly what happened last night.
The reason? The Protect College Sports Act. After months of debate, amendments, negotiations and plenty of opinions, the bill officially passed the U.S. Senate by a 77–22 vote... so let’s break it down.
First... And Most Important... Nothing Changes Today!
The Protect College Sports Act passed the Senate, but it is not law yet.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives. It would need to pass there before going to the President to be signed into law. Some believe the bill still needs significant changes, which could take many months, or even years. So athletes, families, coaches and agents don't need to suddenly change what they're doing today.
But if this eventually becomes law, it could significantly reshape the rules governing college sports.
What Is the Protect College Sports Act? At its core, the PCSA is Congress’ attempt to create one federal framework for college sports. Instead of continuing to operate through a combination of NCAA rules, court decisions, the House settlement and different state laws, the bill would establish federal rules covering many of the biggest issues in college athletics today.
Among other things, the bill addresses:
Revenue sharing and athlete compensation
NIL and third party deals
Transfer rules
Eligibility and the Five Year Rule
Agent registration and commissions
Scholarship protections
Athlete healthcare
The NCAA’s antitrust protection
State NIL laws
TV and media rights
There are significant details buried within each of those topics. One of the most significant is giving the NCAA, conferences and schools antitrust protection. Which means they can't be sued for enforcing the cap, transfers rules, eligibility decisions and more.
A few others to highlight: ➡️ the bill could allow each school to pay athletes nearly $49 million per year
➡️ it would limit athletes to one penalty free transfer between schools
➡️ it would cap agent commissions on NIL deals at 5%
Closing Thoughts:
If this eventually becomes law, it would reshape many of the rules across the college sports landscape, including how athletes get paid, when they can transfer, how eligibility works and who can represent them. And that makes understanding the rules more important than ever.
Representation is much more than negotiating a contract or finding a brand deal. These rules are getting more complicated by the day, and one mistake involving eligibility, a transfer, a disclosure or a contract can cost an athlete a season or a deal.
For current athletes and recruits, having the right people around you and a clear strategy behind every decision is only becoming more important.
As for the bill itself, parts have merit and are an attempt to provide additional protections and benefits for athletes. Other parts raise serious questions about athlete rights, movement and representation, while providing the NCAA and schools additional legal protection. There will be plenty of debate about all of that as this moves forward.
For now, though, nothing changes. The Senate passed the bill. Now we wait to see what happens in the House.
And unfortunately, I have a feeling it won’t be my last time watching C-SPAN.
If you want to dive into it further, I put together a two page brief that breaks down the major provisions.
As always, this is my interpretation of everything I've read. If I missed something or interpreted part of the ruling incorrectly, let me know.
Kevin Tarca
VP of Basketball Operations
If you're new here, I am the VP of Basketball Operations at FreeGame Management. We sit at the intersection of sports, culture, and commerce, creating opportunities for athletes at every stage.
Our mission is simple: help you win before, during, and after your playing career.
Follow along as we continue to grow an athlete-first organization, by players, for players.
Comments