Two senators have reached bipartisan agreement on provisions regarding name, image and likeness compensation for college athletes. (Photo: Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – Two U.S. senators have reached bipartisan agreement on a wide-ranging bill aimed at solving many of the biggest problems surrounding player compensation in college sports.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington state – leading members of the Senate committee responsible for this issue – recipes exposed this week, with the goal of “restoring order to college athletics.”
Meanwhile, a separate bill establishing a national college athlete compensation framework has stalled in the chamber after being pulled from the early May voting schedule following unanimous opposition from the House of Representatives Congressional Black Caucus.
The main voting bloc supported the NAACP’s call to oppose GOP-led redistricting efforts in southern states through college sports, including boycotts of public universities by athletes and fans.
The senators’ proposal is Congress’ latest push for sweeping changes university sports worldwhich continues to grapple with the effects of 2021 NCAA guidelines that allowed student-athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness, or NIL.
Universities, businesses and marketers are also grappling with a patchwork of state NIL regulations, gender inequality in NIL contracts and the controversial NCAA transfer portal, among others.
A federal judge in 2025 also approved the terms of the law $2.8 billion antitrust settlement this paved the way for schools to pay athletes directly.
Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said that “student-athletes can benefit from their name, image and likeness, but college sports still need true rules, competitive balance, competition and a true connection to education” in statement.
The Texas Republican added that the bill — which is expected to be formally introduced the week of June 1, when Congress resumes session — “protects athletes and fans and stops college sports from becoming a two-conference minor league.”
Cantwell, a member of the rankings panel, said the legislation “gives new tools and new rules to curb runaway costs while maintaining zero income sharing” as well as women’s sports and the Olympics.
Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware played a role in crafting the legislation and are co-authors of the upcoming bill.
Aspects of the bill
The legislation would create a national NIL standard that would eliminate a patchwork of state regulations, provide some antitrust protection to NCAA and college athletic conferences and establish a five-year athlete eligibility schedule, among other things.
The legislation would also prevent football coaches from leaving mid-season to coach another program, among other things section by section bill summary.
According to the project, athletes would also be guaranteed one transfer without losing their eligibility.
The bill also establishes a “targeted antitrust exemption allowing schools and conferences to voluntarily form a covered entity to pool and sell certain media rights relating to college sporting events.”
Employment status issue
While the House bill seeks to prevent college athletes from being considered employees, the senators’ proposal is notably neutral regarding the classification of athletes.
GOP Reps. Tim Walberg of Michigan and Brett Guthrie of Kentucky took aim at the bill’s neutral stance, stating in a speech: statement that “any lasting framework must confront the central issue that continues to raise uncertainty about the future of college sports: whether student-athletes will ultimately be treated as employees.”
Walberg and Guthrie are chairmen of the Education and Employment and Energy and Commerce committees, which have joint jurisdiction on the matter.
“Congress cannot provide true stability, cohesion and certainty for schools, conferences and student-athletes by leaving this issue unresolved,” the chairmen said. “Without addressing employment issues, smaller universities and their women’s and Olympic programs may face enormous financial burdens and be forced to cut programs and scholarships in their athletic departments.”
Trump admin ‘reviewing’
President Donald Trump’s administration has also sought to impose federal solutions to the most challenging problems facing the college sports world, including through wide-ranging executive order signed by Trump in April.
Part of the order also called on Congress to “expeditiously adopt legislation that satisfactorily addresses these issues.”
A White House official, speaking on background, told States Newsroom that the White House is “reviewing” the senators’ legislation and “seeking input from important stakeholders.”
“We appreciate Congress’s efforts to move forward on this important issue to save college sports,” the official added.
