President Donald Trump is keeping a close eye on the Protect College Sports Act as it successfully navigated a significant hurdle in the Senate, according to one of the bill’s Republican co-sponsors.
Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri reported that he reached out to Trump on Tuesday evening, once he realized supporters had enough votes to move the legislation forward. “He was thrilled,” Schmitt mentioned. “He’s not just some political figure playing around with the ‘sports ball’ stuff. This really matters to him.”
This shows that the administration is prioritizing the passage of the college sports reform, rather than simply giving it a distant endorsement.
The bipartisan bill, which was introduced in May by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, cleared a procedural vote in the Senate with a count of 74 to 24, needing 60 votes to proceed.
The proposed legislation aims to grant college athletes rights to earn compensation from their name, image, and likeness, adopt a revenue-sharing cap agreed upon in a previous House settlement, and set up a player-retention fund. Additionally, it would impose five-year eligibility limits, limit unrestricted transfers, and enhance protections regarding scholarships, medical issues, and safety.
Previously, Trump and White House officials were involved in discussions that facilitated support from the SEC and Big Ten, as those conferences had raised concerns over compensation and realignment issues.
However, the measure is not without its critics. Organizations like the NAACP, various labor groups, and some athlete advocates have expressed concerns, arguing that players were not adequately represented in negotiations and should have collective-bargaining rights.
The vote on Tuesday did not finalize the legislation; it still needs to pass additional votes in the Senate and then the House before reaching Trump for approval.
While this account from Schmitt clarifies the president’s stance, Congress continues to deliberate on a national framework concerning NIL, transfers, and athlete protections.
