S. 4668
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
In plain English: what this bill does
The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 would set national rules for college athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments, athlete welfare, college sports broadcasting, and HBCU media infrastructure. It would bar schools and groups from blocking athletes from earning money from their own name or image, require athletes and schools to report certain payments and deals, and cap school revenue-sharing with athletes at a set amount, with a temporary retention fund above that cap. It would also add health, safety, academic and transfer protections, let athletes sue for certain violations, give antitrust protection to many college sports rules, allow a joint TV-rights sales entity for college sports, and create a $180 million yearly grant program for HBCU broadcast and broadband upgrades.
Who this affects
- **Student athletes (current and prospective)**: may earn money from their name, image and likeness, must report deals over $600 to their school and athletic association, and gain new health, transfer, academic and grant-in-aid protections.
- **Schools (mainly NCAA Division I)**: may pay athletes for name, image and likeness within the revenue share cap, must file yearly reports on athlete payments and program finances, must provide medical coverage and health and safety measures, and must keep women's and Olympic sports at 2024–2025 levels.
- **Intercollegiate athletic associations and conferences**: must run an agent registry and a searchable fair-market-value database, set up an Office of the Student Athlete Ombudsman, reserve at least one-third of governing board seats for current or recent student athletes, and enforce the new rules.
- **Athlete agents**: must register with a state, certify compliance with association rules, may not charge fees above 5 percent of an endorsement deal, and may be decertified for violations.
Words to know
- **Revenue share cap**: the limit on how much a school may pay athletes directly, set by a court settlement and continued under this bill unless Congress acts.
- **Retention fund**: an extra amount a school may pay above the cap to keep athletes who have finished at least one season there.
- **Collective**: a group, such as a booster organization, that gives money to or for athletes or a school's athletic program.
- **Antitrust laws**: federal and state laws against business practices that limit competition, such as agreements to fix prices.
For example
Made-up numbers: A school's revenue share cap is $10,000,000 for the year, and it wants to pay $2,000,000 above that to keep a player through the retention fund. The bill allows up to $22,500,000 above the cap, so the school may pay the extra $2,000,000 because $2,000,000 is less than $22,500,000.
- Step one: Check the cap room: $10,000,000 + $2,000,000 = $12,000,000 in total.
- Step two: Compare the extra amount to the limit: $2,000,000 is less than $22,500,000.
- Step three: The payment is allowed under the retention fund for that year.
Written by AI from the bill's text below; it can be wrong. How it's written
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement).
First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600.
The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.
The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season.
Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment.
The bill generally prohibits Division I conferences from reducing the number of varsity or Olympic sports teams that a member institution must sponsor. Specifically, large institutions ($80 million or more in annual athletics revenue) must offer and maintain at least as many grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for sports that do not generate positive net revenue as the institution provided during academic year 2024-25. The bill provides for a waiver of this requirement under certain circumstances of financial hardship and the requirements expire nine years after the enactment of the bill.
Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Text of the bill
I Protections of student athletes and fair competition
Where this section came from
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Jun 2, 2026 · Introduced in Senate Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Jun 2
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Sep 28, 2026 · Engrossed in Senate S.Amdt. 6779: To improve the bill. Official page › S.Amdt. 6777: To improve the bill. Official page › S.Amdt. 6776: In the nature of a substitute. Official page › S.Amdt. 6831: To modify the prohibition on certain conference mergers and acquisitions. Official page › S.Amdt. 6830: To require the disclosure of foreign financing of intercollegiate athletics. Official page › S.Amdt. 6828: To modify the provision relating to the relationship of this Act to existing law. Official page › On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed — Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to, 74–24 · Roll Call 235On the Motion to Proceed — Motion to Proceed Agreed to, 77–22 · Roll Call 236On the Cloture Motion — Cloture Motion Agreed to, 70–21 · Roll Call 240On the Amendment — Amendment Agreed to, 77–23 · Roll Call 242On the Cloture Motion — Cloture Motion Agreed to, 74–25 · Roll Call 243On the Amendment — Amendment Agreed to, 96–1 · Roll Call 245On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 1–94 · Roll Call 246On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 42–54 · Roll Call 247On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 49–50 · Roll Call 248On the Amendment — Amendment Rejected, 47–52 · Roll Call 249On Passage of the Bill — Bill Passed, 77–22 · Roll Call 250
(a) Certain agreements and compensation prohibited.
(1) Prohibition.
An institution, an employee of an institution, a volunteer of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, or an associated entity shall not— (
1
A
) except as provided in
paragraph (2) and
subsection (b), arrange, provide, offer, or permit, directly or indirectly, compensation in an amount that would circumvent or result in the institution exceeding the revenue share cap to— (
A
i
) a student athlete, a group of student athletes, or their family members; or (
B
ii
) a prospective student athlete, a group of prospective student athletes, or their family members;
or
(
2
B
)
except for a name, image, and likeness agreement between a student athlete and an institution or between a prospective student athlete and an institution,
enter into a name, image, and likeness agreement with a student athlete or prospective student athlete that is not— (
A
i
) for a valid business purpose; and (
B
ii
) commensurate with compensation paid
by third parties
to individuals with a similar profile, reputation, or notability who are not student athletes or prospective student athletes
at the institution; or (C) provide compensation for any purpose to a prospective student athlete prior to enrollment in an institution, but nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit an institution from providing compensation to attend a development camp or program if that camp or program is open to non-prospective student athletes and such compensation does not exceed the reasonable costs of attendance
. (
2) Retention fund. (A) Retention fund exception. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an institution may exceed the revenue share cap by not more than $22,500,000 per academic year for the purpose of retaining a student athlete or group of student athletes who have spent at least one full competitive season at the institution. (B) Non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports programs. (i) In general. An institution may further exceed the revenue share cap for the purpose described in subparagraph (A) by up to an additional $5,000,000 per academic year in proportion to the amount of name, image, and likeness compensation provided by the institution through the revenue share cap described in subsection (a)(1) and the retention fund amount described in subparagraph (A) to a student athlete or group of student athletes competing in non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports programs, including women's and Olympic intercollegiate sports programs. (ii) Clarification. Nothing in clause (i) shall be interpreted to preclude an institution from providing name, image, and likeness compensation through the revenue share cap described in subsection (a)(1) and the retention fund amount described in subparagraph (A) in excess of $5,000,000 to a student athlete or group of student athletes competing in non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports programs, including women's and Olympic intercollegiate sports programs, provided such compensation complies with subparagraph (A) and subsection (a)(1). (C) Time limitation. The exception described in subparagraph (A) shall apply only during the nine-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (D) Academic success limitation. An institution shall not be eligible for the exception described in subparagraph (A) if the institution fails to meet uniform benchmarks established by the relevant intercollegiate athletic association or conference related to graduation rates and the academic progress of its student athletes participating in a varsity sports program. (
b) Personal athletic and education benefits permitted. An intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, an institution, or any representative thereof shall not, pursuant to the Injunctive Relief Settlement Agreement approved by the court in In Re College Athlete NIL
Legislation
Litigation
, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), restrict the ability of a student athlete enrolled at an institution to receive compensation from an intercollegiate athletic association, an institution, a conference, or an associated entity, for personal benefits related to education or intercollegiate athletics,
provided
if
they
those benefits
are—
… 1 unchanged passage …
(2) reasonable costs for meals, shelter, medical coverage, and medical expenses not provided or covered by the institution;
and
or
… 1 unchanged passage …
(c)
Multimedia rights holders, sponsors, apparel companies, and vendors. In the case of a name, image, and likeness agreement involving, or brokered by, a multimedia rights holder, or a sponsor of the institution in which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll that has a commercial relationship with the institution, an apparel company that has a commercial relationship with the institution, or a vendor for the athletic department or athletic facilities that has a commercial relationship with the institution— (1) the multimedia rights holder shall provide a signed certification to the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity affirming that the institution in which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll is not the originating source of the compensation to be paid to the student athlete or prospective student athlete and that payment of the compensation is not coming directly or indirectly from the institution; (2) the third party or the sponsor, apparel company, or vendor benefitting from the name, image, and likeness of the student athlete or prospective student athlete shall provide a signed certification to the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity affirming that it is the originating source of the compensation to be paid to the student athlete, that it did not receive funds, directly or indirectly, from the institution in which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll for the purpose of financing the agreement, that the institution did not forgo funds due from the third party or the sponsor, apparel company, or vendor for the purpose of financing the agreement, and that the institution did not negotiate for and determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the student athlete or prospective student athlete through the agreement; and (3) the institution at which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll, if required by the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity, shall provide a signed certification to the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity that the institution is not circumventing the revenue share cap through the name, image, and likeness agreement, or negotiating for and determining the amount of compensation to be paid to the student athlete or prospective student athlete through the agreement. (d)
Valid business purpose.
A
Except for a
name, image, and likeness agreement with
an institution,
a
name, image, and likeness agreement with a
student athlete shall be for a valid business purpose. (
d
e
)
Payments to coaches and managers. (1) In general. An institution described in paragraph (2) may not compensate or otherwise provide or promise any type of payment or benefit of more than $500,000 to any coach, assistant coach, general manager, or other person who coaches or manages a varsity sports team by using, diverting, budgeting, or otherwise obtaining funds from any source other than college sports revenue or a donation or contribution to the athletic department of the institution. (2)
Institution
described. An institution described in this paragraph is an institution with more than $80,000,000 in total annual athletics revenue during the preceding academic year. (f) Institution
defined. In this section, the term institution means—
(1) an institution of higher education, as that term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); and
(2) an institution that is a party to, through membership in a conference or otherwise, In Re College Athlete NIL
Legislation
Litigation
, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), or has opted in to the Injunctive Relief Settlement in that case.
(a) Certain agreements and compensation prohibited
(1) Prohibition. An institution, an employee of an institution, a volunteer of an institution, a conference, an employee of a conference, or an associated entity shall not—
(A) except as provided in paragraph (2) and subsection (b), arrange, provide, offer, or permit, directly or indirectly, compensation in an amount that would circumvent or result in the institution exceeding the revenue share cap to—
(i) a student athlete, a group of student athletes, or their family members; or
(ii) a prospective student athlete, a group of prospective student athletes, or their family members;
(B) except for a name, image, and likeness agreement between a student athlete and an institution or between a prospective student athlete and an institution, enter into a name, image, and likeness agreement with a student athlete or prospective student athlete that is not—
(i) for a valid business purpose; and
(ii) commensurate with compensation paid by third parties to individuals with a similar profile, reputation, or notability who are not student athletes or prospective student athletes at the institution; or
(C) provide compensation for any purpose to a prospective student athlete prior to enrollment in an institution, but nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit an institution from providing compensation to attend a development camp or program if that camp or program is open to non-prospective student athletes and such compensation does not exceed the reasonable costs of attendance.
(2) Retention fund
(A) Retention fund exception. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an institution may exceed the revenue share cap by not more than $22,500,000 per academic year for the purpose of retaining a student athlete or group of student athletes who have spent at least one full competitive season at the institution.
(B) Non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports programs
(i) In general. An institution may further exceed the revenue share cap for the purpose described in subparagraph (A) by up to an additional $5,000,000 per academic year in proportion to the amount of name, image, and likeness compensation provided by the institution through the revenue share cap described in subsection (a)(1) and the retention fund amount described in subparagraph (A) to a student athlete or group of student athletes competing in non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports programs, including women's and Olympic intercollegiate sports programs.
(ii) Clarification. Nothing in clause (i) shall be interpreted to preclude an institution from providing name, image, and likeness compensation through the revenue share cap described in subsection (a)(1) and the retention fund amount described in subparagraph (A) in excess of $5,000,000 to a student athlete or group of student athletes competing in non-revenue generating intercollegiate sports programs, including women's and Olympic intercollegiate sports programs, provided such compensation complies with subparagraph (A) and subsection (a)(1).
(C) Time limitation. The exception described in subparagraph (A) shall apply only during the nine-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(D) Academic success limitation. An institution shall not be eligible for the exception described in subparagraph (A) if the institution fails to meet uniform benchmarks established by the relevant intercollegiate athletic association or conference related to graduation rates and the academic progress of its student athletes participating in a varsity sports program.
(b) Personal athletic and education benefits permitted. An intercollegiate athletic association, a conference, an institution, or any representative thereof shall not, pursuant to the Injunctive Relief Settlement Agreement approved by the court in In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), restrict the ability of a student athlete enrolled at an institution to receive compensation from an intercollegiate athletic association, an institution, a conference, or an associated entity, for personal benefits related to education or intercollegiate athletics, if those benefits are—
(1) reasonable costs of transportation and temporary lodging for family members of a student athlete while the student athlete is experiencing a documented physical or mental health concern or participating in an intercollegiate athletic competition;
(2) reasonable costs for meals, shelter, medical coverage, and medical expenses not provided or covered by the institution; or
(3) reasonable education-related financial benefits, such as institution fees, books, or other incidental educational expenses that are not otherwise provided by the institution.
(c) Multimedia rights holders, sponsors, apparel companies, and vendors. In the case of a name, image, and likeness agreement involving, or brokered by, a multimedia rights holder, or a sponsor of the institution in which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll that has a commercial relationship with the institution, an apparel company that has a commercial relationship with the institution, or a vendor for the athletic department or athletic facilities that has a commercial relationship with the institution—
(1) the multimedia rights holder shall provide a signed certification to the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity affirming that the institution in which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll is not the originating source of the compensation to be paid to the student athlete or prospective student athlete and that payment of the compensation is not coming directly or indirectly from the institution;
(2) the third party or the sponsor, apparel company, or vendor benefitting from the name, image, and likeness of the student athlete or prospective student athlete shall provide a signed certification to the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity affirming that it is the originating source of the compensation to be paid to the student athlete, that it did not receive funds, directly or indirectly, from the institution in which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll for the purpose of financing the agreement, that the institution did not forgo funds due from the third party or the sponsor, apparel company, or vendor for the purpose of financing the agreement, and that the institution did not negotiate for and determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the student athlete or prospective student athlete through the agreement; and
(3) the institution at which the student athlete is enrolled or plans to enroll, if required by the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity, shall provide a signed certification to the intercollegiate athletic association or its designated enforcement entity that the institution is not circumventing the revenue share cap through the name, image, and likeness agreement, or negotiating for and determining the amount of compensation to be paid to the student athlete or prospective student athlete through the agreement.
(d) Valid business purpose. Except for a name, image, and likeness agreement with an institution, a name, image, and likeness agreement with a student athlete shall be for a valid business purpose.
(e) Payments to coaches and managers
(1) In general. An institution described in paragraph (2) may not compensate or otherwise provide or promise any type of payment or benefit of more than $500,000 to any coach, assistant coach, general manager, or other person who coaches or manages a varsity sports team by using, diverting, budgeting, or otherwise obtaining funds from any source other than college sports revenue or a donation or contribution to the athletic department of the institution.
(2) Institution described. An institution described in this paragraph is an institution with more than $80,000,000 in total annual athletics revenue during the preceding academic year.
(f) Institution defined. In this section, the term institution means—
(1) an institution of higher education, as that term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); and
(2) an institution that is a party to, through membership in a conference or otherwise, In Re College Athlete NIL Litigation, No. 20–cv–03919 (N.D. Cal. June 6, 2025), or has opted in to the Injunctive Relief Settlement in that case.
II Sports broadcasting
III HBCU Sports Media and Connectivity Program