Cruz-Cantwell bill to “protect college sports”

by Jay, San Diego, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 09:19 (12 hours, 49 minutes ago)

Auerbach has a preview: https://bsky.app/profile/nauerbach.com/post/3mmtupesbfs2n

- Sets national standards for NIL compensation & targets deals that are used solely to circumvent the revenue-sharing cap
- Allows CSC and schools to actually enforce the cap
- Enforceable transfer rules - one free transfer, additional transfers may require athletes to sit out

- Five-year eligibility clock (like the NCAA is exploring)
- Bars professional athletes from competing in the NCAA
- Prohibits tampering
- Limited antitrust protection for associations and conferences that enforce/comply with rules

- Provisions to guard against the formation of a Super League. (Conferences that distribute more than $1B in revenue last fiscal year cannot further consolidate)
- Options to pool media rights
- Some provisions to protect rivalry games

- "Lane Kiffin rule" -- copying the NFL in not allowing teams to poach head coaches from another team in-season (with legal protection to enforce that rule)
- the legislation takes a neutral stance on employment. Won't argue in favor or against employment status.