{"id":2607494,"date":"2026-05-27T16:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T20:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-and-cantwell-strike-bipartisan-deal-to-save-college-sports\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:32:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T20:32:28","slug":"cruz-and-cantwell-strike-bipartisan-deal-to-save-college-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cruz-and-cantwell-strike-bipartisan-deal-to-save-college-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"Cruz and Cantwell strike bipartisan deal to &#8216;save college sports&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcruz-and-cantwell-strike-bipartisan-deal-to-save-college-sports%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2607494&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced a bipartisan \u201cProtect College Sports Act\u201d aimed at bringing order to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-dangerous-new-democrat-bills-that-you-probably-havent-heard-of\/\" title=\"Four Dangerous New Democrat ...s That You Probably Haven\u2019t Heard Of\">college sports<\/a> regulation. They plan to introduce teh bill in Congress this session,following years of failed attempts to settle rules for the NCAA after the Supreme Court\u2019s 2021 decision allowed athletes to profit from name,image,and likeness (NIL) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-upholds-jan-6-trespassing-charge-boosts-chances-for-supreme-court-review-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Appeals court upholds Jan. 6 trespassing charge, boosts chances for Supreme Court review - Washington Examiner\">amid ongoing legal challenges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The legislation would establish new standards, including: protections for NIL, a five-year eligibility framework with one-time transfer protection, limits on mid-season coach changes, a ban on professional athletes returning to NCAA eligibility, and creation of a student-athlete ombudsman role for oversight. It also targets competitive imbalance between top conferences (like the SEC and Big Ten) and other schools, and seeks to address recurring antitrust lawsuits involving the NCAA.<\/p>\n<p>Additional support includes Chris Coons (D-DE) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO). Backers say the bill protects athletes and helps smaller athletic departments avoid cutting programs, while allowing major sports to keep growing. The declaration comes after a recently pulled vote on another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-johnson-stokes-conservative-backlash-with-ncaa-friendly-sports-bill\/\" title=\"Mike Johnson stokes conservative backlash with NCAA-friendly sports ...\">college sports bill<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ted-cruz\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"185\">Ted Cruz<\/a> (R-TX) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maria-cantwell\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1032\">Maria Cantwell<\/a> (D-WA) struck a bipartisan deal in a new bill that they hope will be enough to end the regulatory chaos surrounding college <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/sports\/\" type=\"category\" id=\"69\">sports<\/a> in recent years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cruz and Cantwell announced on Wednesday that they struck a bipartisan agreement to bring a new \u201cProtect College Sports Act\u201d to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"31\">Congress<\/a> this session. The bill would roll out numerous changes, including regulations on player transfers and payments, rules on mid-season coach movement, and bar professional players from coming back to the NCAA.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4581932\/thune-trump-rough-patch-senate-frustrations-boil-over\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune navigates fresh Trump rough patch as Senate frustrations boil over<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4582015\/senate-democrat-andy-kim-ice-clash-pepper-spray-incident\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate Democrat Andy Kim and ICE clash over pepper spray incident<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4579639\/gop-senators-spurn-anti-weaponization-fund-phone-data\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>GOP senators spurn \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund payouts for phone data seizure: \u2018I don\u2019t need any compensation\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe\u00a0Protect College Sports\u00a0Act is a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bipartisanship\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1709\">bipartisan<\/a> plan to restore order,\u201d Cruz said in a statement.\u00a0\u201cStudent athletes\u00a0can\u00a0profit from their name, image, and likeness, but college sports still\u00a0needs\u00a0real rules,\u00a0competitive balance,\u00a0rivalries, and a\u00a0true\u00a0connection to education. This bill protects athletes\u00a0and\u00a0fans and keeps college sports from becoming a two-conference minor league.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill\u2019s rollout comes as part of a yearslong saga on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers and college sports industry advocates attempting to provide a clearer structure for the NCAA as it battles a slew of legal challenges. Amid years of Congress trying and failing to act after the Supreme Court\u2019s 2021 ruling that unlocked name, image, and likeness compensation for collegiate athletes, Cruz and Cantwell\u2019s bill stands out with its bipartisan support, backing from the White House, and support from the NCAA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill includes protections for name, image, and likeness for student athletes, a five-year eligibility framework with one-time transfer protection, protections against mid-season coach transitions, bars professional athletes from NCAA eligibility, and creates a student athlete ombudsman position for oversight. It also aims to tackle issues, including imbalances between the wealthiest conferences, such as the SEC and Big Ten, and the rest of the nation\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opinion-usa-todays-censorship-of-my-client-chelsea-mitchell-is-unprecedented\/\" title=\"OPINION: USA Today\u2019s\u00a0Censorship Of My Client Chelsea Mitchell Is Unprecedented\">athletic conferences<\/a>, along with resolving the recurring antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-coons\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1885\">Chris Coons<\/a> (D-DE) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) have also expressed support for the legislation. Coons called it a \u201cstrong\u201d bill and encouraged Congress to take it up quickly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis legislation will protect student-athletes and ensure they receive the compensation, benefits, and safeguards they\u2019ve earned on the field and in the courtroom, help schools with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >smaller athletic departments avoid eliminating programs<\/a>, and protect non-revenue sports while allowing sports such as basketball and football to continue growing,\u201d Coons said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sports\/4575304\/naacp-call-black-student-boycott-southern-college-sport\/\">NAACP CALLS FOR BLACK STUDENTS TO BOYCOTT SOUTHERN COLLEGE SPORTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The timing of the bill follows the most recent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3906085\/house-gop-leadership-pulls-college-sports-bill-floor-vote\/\">pulling of a vote<\/a> on the GOP-led <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sports\/3903211\/college-sports-score-act-house-vote-ncaa\/\">Student Compensation<\/a> and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act, which has faced <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/chiproytx\/status\/1996296598666588373\">pushback<\/a> from legislators who argue it\u2019s not ready for action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Randy Levine, vice chairman\u00a0of President Donald Trump\u2019s Roundtable on Fixing College Sports, voiced his support for the Protect College Sports Act, calling it \u201ca great first step to solving the chaos and protecting Olympic sports.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cruz and Cantwell\u2019s bipartisan \u201cProtect College Sports Act\u201d aims to end college sports regulatory chaos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2607495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap23097572528450-scaled-e1779912647969.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[80351,39752,9333],"class_list":["post-2607494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-bipartisan-deal","tag-college-sports","tag-ncaa"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap23097572528450-scaled-e1779912647969.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2607494"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607498,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607494\/revisions\/2607498"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2607494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2607494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2607494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}