Senate Approves Protect College Sports Act 77-22 — Trump Calls It a "Really Big Deal"

President Donald Trump praised the Protect College Sports Act as a "really big deal" after the U.S. Senate approved the measure 77-22 on Monday, telling followers on Truth Social the bill will "not only save college sports, it will save the colleges themselves." He specifically congratulated Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees, and others involved in the effort.

What the Bill Would Do

The bipartisan legislation — co-authored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell — would create a uniform federal framework for collegiate athletics to replace the current mix of NCAA rules, state laws and court rulings. Lawmakers designed the measure to bring stability to a landscape reshaped by athletes' ability to earn money from their name, image and likeness (NIL).

Key provisions include:

• Establishing national rules for athlete compensation and NIL agreements, including disclosure and contract requirements;
• Permitting schools to share revenue directly with athletes but capping the amount they can pay through revenue sharing;
• Generally allowing one transfer without loss of a year of eligibility and imposing a five-year cap on eligibility;
• Granting the NCAA expanded authority to enforce the federal standards while adding protections for scholarships and medical coverage;
• Incorporating elements of the House v. NCAA settlement that opened the door for colleges to compensate athletes for their NIL.

Supporters and Critics

Supporters argue a federal law is needed to replace a patchwork of state statutes and conflicting court decisions and to provide predictability for schools, conferences and athletes. In a statement to Newsweek, Senator Ted Cruz called the vote "a monumental day for college athletics" and urged the House of Representatives to act quickly.

"This is a really big deal. It will not only save college sports, it will save the colleges themselves," President Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Critics counter that the bill could restrict athletes' rights and bargaining power. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker said on X that the legislation "pulls the rug out from under" college athletes, who he argued generate billions for universities and deserve stronger protections.

Vote, Next Steps and Context

The Senate's 77-22 vote now sends the bill to the House of Representatives, where lawmakers are expected to debate how federal law should balance institutional stability, athlete compensation and individual rights. The measure follows a 2025 court settlement that allowed schools to compensate athletes for their name, image and likeness — a development that helped spur the push for a national approach.

Senators Who Voted Against The Bill

• Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.)
• Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
• Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.)
• Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
• Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
• Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
• Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
• Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.)
• Andy Kim (D-N.J.)
• Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
• Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)
• Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
• Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
• Jack Reed (D-R.I.)
• Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
• Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)
• Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
• Rick Scott (R-Fla.)
• Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
• Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.)
• Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
• Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

Image caption: FirstBank Stadium, home of the Vanderbilt University football team, Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 24, 2025.

Note: Newsweek reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, in producing this story.