Driving the news: Sen. Ted Cruz is leading a bipartisan push for the Protect College Sports Act, a bill aimed at 'protect[ing], save[ing], and preserve[ing] college sports in America.'
Cruz said the measure 'does absolutely nothing to undermine the laws states have passed, protecting women’s sports.' He said the language was modified to make clear that states keep control of that issue.
The White House Counsel’s Office, which supports the bill, says it would not preempt state laws prohibiting men from participating in women’s sports.
By the numbers: The bill would limit athletes to one free transfer, with additional transfers allowed in specific cases, including if a coach leaves, a program is canceled, or the athlete is a victim of sexual assault or harassment. It would also require a redshirt year for transfers outside those exceptions.
The proposal would set five years of eligibility with a cap at age 24. It would also eliminate pro players returning to college sports and guarantee athletes the right to receive revenue shares for name, image and likeness, or NIL deals.
Cruz said the bill would bring 'order to the chaos' in college sports and keep the system 'strong and vibrant' for decades. He also said athletes are 'entitled to enjoy the fruits of their labor.'
The vote is expected in the next 10 days. The bill has support from the White House, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. It also has four Republican and four Democratic sponsors.
The bottom line: This is a classic case of Washington trying to impose structure on a system that has drifted into chaos. If the bill holds its current language, states keep their authority on women’s sports while college athletes get a more predictable set of rules.