Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Term Dictionary
If you come across any unfamiliar words while reading, these resources can help make everything clearer. Pick whichever one works best for you!
- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
The gist
Creates one national rulebook for college athletes covering NIL deals, agent limits, medical coverage, and pooled TV rights ā€” overriding state laws.
Who wins, who loses
- Wins: Division I athletes gaining medical coverage, scholarship protection, and an ombudsman; women's and Olympic sports.
- Loses: booster collectives, states with strong NIL laws, powerhouse schools losing solo TV deal control.
What it does
- Caps sports agent fees at 5% and requires athletes to report NIL deals over $600 within 30 days.
- Forces Division I schools to cover sports injury bills for 5 years post-eligibility; NCAA funds $60M catastrophic injury program.
- Locks women's and Olympic sports scholarships at 2024-2025 levels at schools earning $80M+.
- Pools football and basketball media rights and guarantees one free local broadcast per team.
Why should I care?
Supporters say national rules end chaotic state-by-state NIL bidding wars and finally give athletes real health and legal protections. Critics argue Congress is capping athlete earnings just as players started getting paid, while shielding the NCAA from lawsuits. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.