Senate Passes Comprehensive College Sports Reform Act, Heads to House
The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved the Protect College Sports Act, a comprehensive reform package designed to establish federal guidelines for college athletics, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, athlete compensation, and media rights. The bill also introduces provisions…
Salt Lake City, UT, September 28, 2026 — The U.S. Senate has advanced a significant piece of legislation aimed at reforming college athletics. The Protect College Sports Act, a broad package of federal guidelines, received overwhelming approval from the Senate.
This comprehensive bill seeks to establish national standards for various aspects of collegiate sports. Key areas addressed by the proposed legislation include regulations for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, mechanisms for athlete compensation, and the management of media rights.
In addition to NIL and compensation, the Protect College Sports Act also introduces provisions concerning athlete eligibility limits and the rules governing athlete transfers between institutions.
Following its passage in the Senate, the bill is now set to move to the U.S. House of Representatives. There, it will undergo further consideration and a vote. For the legislation to become law, it must receive approval from the House.
The potential impact of these federal guidelines is a topic of interest for collegiate athletic programs across the country. Specifically, institutions in Salt Lake City, such as the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU), will be closely watching the bill’s progression through the legislative process as the proposed changes could significantly affect their athletic departments.
Story summarized from the original created by Cami Mondeaux on www.deseret.com, see more information here.
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