Bipartisan bill would bring transparency to college athletics | Editorial

Editorially presented bipartisan legislation seeks to increase transparency and guardrails around college athletics, focusing on NIL deals following a 2025 federal court decision that enabled revenue-sharing for athletic departments. Senators Cantwell (D) and Cruz (R) propose the Protect College Sports Act, which would cap agents’ fees at 5%, require registration with states or leagues, and mandate colleges to report NIL agreements to oversight bodies. The bill would also require athletes to sit out a year after multiple transfers and would authorize collective negotiating of broadcast rights to benefit women’s and nonrevenue sports. The CBC has raised concerns, and unresolved questions include athlete employment status and bargaining rights, with a commission proposed to address them.