Senate passes bill to regulate college sports NIL deals

Published September 28, 2026 10:09pm ET | Updated September 28, 2026 10:09pm ET



The Senate passed a bill Monday night that aims to regulate college sports after several court cases in recent years dramatically overhauled NCAA rules and allowed student-athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness, known as NIL.

The Protect College Sports Act passed 77-22 with broad bipartisan support. The legislation would establish a federal framework for NIL payments, cap the amount universities can give directly to athletes, create rules for transfers, and establish other regulations governing college sports.

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