S. 4668
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
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
… 4 unchanged passages …
(1) Composition. Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission shall be composed of
20
24
members, of whom— (A) 4 members shall be appointed by the chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate
,
in consultation with the chair
of
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, of
which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete; (B) 4 members shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
in consultation with the ranking member
of
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, of
which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete; (C) 4 members shall be appointed by the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives,
in consultation with the chair
of
the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives, of
which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete; (D) 4 members shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives,
in consultation with the ranking member
of
the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives, of
which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete; (E) 1
member shall be a
current or former student athlete appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
and the chair of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
; (F) 1
member shall be a
current or former student athlete appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
and the ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
; (G) 1
member shall be a
current or former student athlete appointed by Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives
;
and
the chair of the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives;
(H) 1
member shall be a
current or former student athlete appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives
and the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives; (I) 1 member shall be a representative of a historically Black college or university, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (J) 1 member shall be a representative of a historically Black college or university, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (K) 1 member shall be a representative of a mid-sized conference, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; and (L) 1 member shall be a representative of a mid-sized conference, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
.
… 5 unchanged passages …
(B) Executive director and staff. The co-chairs of the Commission shall appoint an executive director of the Commission
,
and such staff as appropriate, with compensation.
(4) Historically Black college or university defined. In this subsection, the term historically Black college or university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). (5) Mid-sized conference defined. In this subsection, the term mid-sized conference means any conference that has generated less than $500,000,000 in total annual revenue during the preceding academic year.
(c) Authority. The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the Commission—
(1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers relevant to the purpose of the Commission ; and (2) require, by subpoena issued upon a majority vote of the Commission, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Commission considers relevant to the purpose of the Commission , provided that the Commission shall take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to preserve the confidentiality of trade secrets or other confidential information of conferences, intercollegiate athletic associations, institutions, or other entities the Commission deems appropriate .
… 5 unchanged passages …
(D) whether to eliminate, extend, or change the
Pool
revenue
Benefits
share
Limit
cap
set
and
forth
retention
in
fund
the
described
Injunctive
in
Relief
section
Settlement
114(a)(2),
Agreement
including
as
consideration
approved
of
or
the
amended
calculation
by
of
the
court
revenue
in
share
In
cap
Re
and
College
additional
Athlete
categories
NIL
of
Legislation,
revenue
No.
that
20–cv–03919
should
(N.D.
be
Cal.
included
June
in
6,
such
2025);
calculation;
(E) compliance with endorsement contract reporting requirements established by an athletic association or a conference;
(F) adequacy of health , wellness, and safety standards established pursuant to this title and compliance with those standards by institutions , including a review of violations of this title, student athlete injuries, student athlete deaths, the adequacy of the independent reporting structure of the athletic health and safety officers, and the independence of medical personnel decisions, and consideration of options for additional health, wellness, and safety standards and increased oversight (including by a third-party oversight organization) to improve compliance and enforcement of health, wellness, and safety standards ;
(G) the adequacy of the athlete agent provisions of this title;
(H) the extent to which student athletes experience abuse or mistreatment and measures that could protect student athletes from such abuse or mistreatment
, including consideration of options for greater oversight (including by a third-party oversight organization) to reduce instances of abuse and mistreatment
; (I) the benefits of the intercollegiate athletic system, including consideration of how the balance of education and athletics impacts the life skills, educational opportunities, leadership skills, character development, and personal growth of the student athlete;
(J) within the Student Athlete Retention Council established under subsection (e), whether the retention fund exception under section 114(a)(2)(A) should be adjusted after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and
if so, the amount of annual compensation that should be subject to the retention fund exception;
(
J
K
)
the opportunities and drawbacks with providing student athletes a method to derive long term financial stability through financial interest in the value of a collegiate athletic program; and (L)
any other recommendations regarding intercollegiate athletics. (2) To draft a joint resolution of approval under subsection (
i
j
) that provides for implementation of the
Commission’s
recommendation
of the Commission
on whether to eliminate, raise, or lower the Pool Benefits Limit in section 114(a). (3) Not later than
5
30
years
months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, to submit a
preliminary
report on the
activities of the
Commission
,
’s
including
findings
recommendations
related
for
to
such
matters
legislative
under
action
paragraph
as
(1)
the Commission considers appropriate
to—
… 3 unchanged passages …
(
4) Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to submit a report on the activities of the Commission, including recommendations for such legislative action as the Commission considers appropriate, to— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and (C) the President. (
e)
Student Athlete Retention Council. (1) In general. There is established within the Commission a council, to be known as the Student Athlete Retention Council, for the purposes of providing recommendations pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(J) on the future of the retention fund exception under section 114(a)(2)(A). (2) Membership. The Student Athlete Retention Council shall be composed of 16 members, of whom— (A) 8 shall be representatives of Division I institutions, with not more than one institution coming from the same conference; and (B) 8 shall be student athletes elected by all Division I student athletes. (3) Authority. The Student Athlete Retention Council may sit and act at such times and places as necessary for the purpose of providing recommendations specified in subsection (d)(1)(J). (f)
Quorum.
Ten
Twelve
members of the Commission, of which
3
5
members shall be current or former student athletes, shall constitute a quorum. (
f
g
) Initial meeting. The Commission shall hold an initial meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which a sufficient number of members have been appointed under subsection (b) to constitute a quorum pursuant to subsection (
e
f
). (
g
h
) Public hearings. The Commission shall hold 1 or more public hearings. (
h
i
) Status. The Commission is not an agency (as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States Code). (
i
j
) Joint resolution. Any Member of Congress may introduce a joint resolution for consideration to adopt any of the recommendations of the Commission, in whole or in part, including any recommendations from the Commission on whether to eliminate, raise, or lower the Pool Benefits Limit. (
j
k
) Termination. The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the report required by this section. (
k
l
) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary in any fiscal year, half of which shall be derived from the applicable account of the House of Representatives and half of which shall be derived from the contingent fund of the Senate.
(a) Commission on the Future of College Athletics
(1) In general. There is established within the legislative branch a commission, to be known as the Congressional Commission on the Future of College Athletics (referred to in this section as the Commission), for the purpose of providing recommendations on the future of college athletics.
(2) Purpose. The purpose of the commission is to provide recommendations for the future of college athletics.
(b) Membership
(1) Composition. Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission shall be composed of 24 members, of whom—
(A) 4 members shall be appointed by the chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;
(B) 4 members shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;
(C) 4 members shall be appointed by the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;
(D) 4 members shall be appointed by the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives, of which at least 1 member shall be a student athlete or former student athlete;
(E) 1 member shall be a current or former student athlete appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the chair of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
(F) 1 member shall be a current or former student athlete appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
(G) 1 member shall be a current or former student athlete appointed by Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the chair of the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives;
(H) 1 member shall be a current or former student athlete appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives;
(I) 1 member shall be a representative of a historically Black college or university, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
(J) 1 member shall be a representative of a historically Black college or university, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(K) 1 member shall be a representative of a mid-sized conference, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; and
(L) 1 member shall be a representative of a mid-sized conference, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2) Requirements. Members of the Commission shall be individuals who are nationally recognized for expertise, knowledge, or experience in matters related to college athletics, university administration, sports law, labor law, athlete welfare, sports economics, health care, or sports medicine.
(3) Co-chairs, executive director, and staff
(A) Co-chairs. The Commission shall have 2 co-chairs, of whom—
(i) 1 co-chair shall be a member selected by the majority party; and
(ii) 1 co-chair shall be a member selected by the minority party.
(B) Executive director and staff. The co-chairs of the Commission shall appoint an executive director of the Commission and such staff as appropriate, with compensation.
(4) Historically Black college or university defined. In this subsection, the term historically Black college or university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(5) Mid-sized conference defined. In this subsection, the term mid-sized conference means any conference that has generated less than $500,000,000 in total annual revenue during the preceding academic year.
(c) Authority. The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the Commission—
(1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers relevant to the purpose of the Commission; and
(2) require, by subpoena issued upon a majority vote of the Commission, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Commission considers relevant to the purpose of the Commission, provided that the Commission shall take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to preserve the confidentiality of trade secrets or other confidential information of conferences, intercollegiate athletic associations, institutions, or other entities the Commission deems appropriate.
(d) Duties. The duties of the Commission are as follows:
(1) To study and develop recommendations regarding—
(A) an alternative structure for providing compensation for student athletes, including consideration of the positive and negative implications associated with a collective bargaining structure and employment status for student athletes;
(B) protecting and preserving athletic opportunities for student athletes, particularly in non-revenue generating, women’s, and Olympic sports intercollegiate athletic programs;
(C) whether any intercollegiate sport should be subject to spending or cost limitations;
(D) whether to eliminate, extend, or change the revenue share cap and retention fund described in section 114(a)(2), including consideration of the calculation of the revenue share cap and additional categories of revenue that should be included in such calculation;
(E) compliance with endorsement contract reporting requirements established by an athletic association or a conference;
(F) adequacy of health, wellness, and safety standards established pursuant to this title and compliance with those standards by institutions, including a review of violations of this title, student athlete injuries, student athlete deaths, the adequacy of the independent reporting structure of the athletic health and safety officers, and the independence of medical personnel decisions, and consideration of options for additional health, wellness, and safety standards and increased oversight (including by a third-party oversight organization) to improve compliance and enforcement of health, wellness, and safety standards;
(G) the adequacy of the athlete agent provisions of this title;
(H) the extent to which student athletes experience abuse or mistreatment and measures that could protect student athletes from such abuse or mistreatment, including consideration of options for greater oversight (including by a third-party oversight organization) to reduce instances of abuse and mistreatment;
(I) the benefits of the intercollegiate athletic system, including consideration of how the balance of education and athletics impacts the life skills, educational opportunities, leadership skills, character development, and personal growth of the student athlete;
(J) within the Student Athlete Retention Council established under subsection (e), whether the retention fund exception under section 114(a)(2)(A) should be adjusted after the date of the enactment of this Act, and if so, the amount of annual compensation that should be subject to the retention fund exception;
(K) the opportunities and drawbacks with providing student athletes a method to derive long term financial stability through financial interest in the value of a collegiate athletic program; and
(L) any other recommendations regarding intercollegiate athletics.
(2) To draft a joint resolution of approval under subsection (j) that provides for implementation of the recommendation of the Commission on whether to eliminate, raise, or lower the Pool Benefits Limit in section 114(a).
(3) Not later than 30 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, to submit a preliminary report on the Commission’s findings related to matters under paragraph (1) to—
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(C) the President.
(4) Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, to submit a report on the activities of the Commission, including recommendations for such legislative action as the Commission considers appropriate, to—
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(C) the President.
(e) Student Athlete Retention Council
(1) In general. There is established within the Commission a council, to be known as the Student Athlete Retention Council, for the purposes of providing recommendations pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(J) on the future of the retention fund exception under section 114(a)(2)(A).
(2) Membership. The Student Athlete Retention Council shall be composed of 16 members, of whom—
(A) 8 shall be representatives of Division I institutions, with not more than one institution coming from the same conference; and
(B) 8 shall be student athletes elected by all Division I student athletes.
(3) Authority. The Student Athlete Retention Council may sit and act at such times and places as necessary for the purpose of providing recommendations specified in subsection (d)(1)(J).
(f) Quorum. Twelve members of the Commission, of which 5 members shall be current or former student athletes, shall constitute a quorum.
(g) Initial meeting. The Commission shall hold an initial meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which a sufficient number of members have been appointed under subsection (b) to constitute a quorum pursuant to subsection (f).
(h) Public hearings. The Commission shall hold 1 or more public hearings.
(i) Status. The Commission is not an agency (as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States Code).
(j) Joint resolution. Any Member of Congress may introduce a joint resolution for consideration to adopt any of the recommendations of the Commission, in whole or in part, including any recommendations from the Commission on whether to eliminate, raise, or lower the Pool Benefits Limit.
(k) Termination. The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the report required by this section.
(l) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary in any fiscal year, half of which shall be derived from the applicable account of the House of Representatives and half of which shall be derived from the contingent fund of the Senate.
II Sports broadcasting
III HBCU Sports Media and Connectivity Program