The Protect College Sports Act is headed toward a vote.
The act, a bill led by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), revolves around costs to keep college sports growing, and the burden it has become on the institutions.
During this latest rise in costs the past few years, many NCAA Division I schools have shuttered some of their programs, including swimming for Michigan State, the Iowa men, Eastern Michigan and more. According to the report, more than 100 women’s and Olympic (non-revenue) programs have been cut nationwide in the past three years.
“The Protect College Sports Act proposes to double the current revenue-sharing agreement as established in June 2025 via the House Settlement. That landmark case set the current revenue-sharing marketplace at $21.35 million per fully participant athletics departments; the Protect College Sports Act would elevate that to more than double -approximately $44-45 million with up to an additional $5 million in monies earmarked for women’s and Olympic, non-revenue sports,” USA Today reported.
The bill also seeks to implement a one-time transfer rule and also address age-based eligibility matters.
The report by Cantwell cited July 2026 Government Accountability Office data that stated “94% of all (NCAA) Division I athletics programs now spend more than they generated in athletics revenue in academic year 2023-24, resulting in campus deficits that must be covered through institutional subsidies, student fees, public support or resources that could otherwise strengthen the academic mission.”
Meanwhile, NCAA participation in the sports that have continued is continuing to rise. The report cited financial records that reflected a “322% increase” in recruiting costs in the 18-year span from 2005-2023.
“This report demonstrates how the unsustainable growth in spending on college sports is amplifying the broader financial pressures on colleges and universities,” Cantwell said in a statement to USA TODAY. “We’re seeing universities transfer general fund money to cover athletic department deficits, dip into endowments to sustain their general funds, and beg state legislatures for even more sports dollars. We must rein in runaway athletics spending or face the consequences of a brain drain that threatens our global leadership in science and technology.”
The bill is bipartisan and has support from the professional sports leagues. But there is plenty of opposition, too. Students are wary of the act without athlete representation.
“I want to speak forcefully against the Protect College Sports Act,” said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who is a former NCAA athlete. “But while a college student and player, I saw how unjust the NCAA is. It is a serial monopolist, controlling an industry of over $15 billion strong and rapidly growing. The NCAA protects its members, it protects the colleges and it has repeatedly put college athletes in horrible positions.”
