WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Protect College Sports Act of 2026 is heading toward an uncertain future.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Big Ten Conference discussed the bipartisan U.S. bill during their meetings Thursday but did not vote on whether to support it. The bill, aimed at creating an antitrust exemption for the NCAA, would give the organization more power to enforce transfer rules and eligibility in college sports, in addition to restricting spending.
The U.S. Senate has taken the bill under consideration after it passed the senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in June.
West Virginia’s senior U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has been a staunch supporter of the bill as a co-sponsor.
“I’ve been working on it and keeping in close touch with the negotiations,” Capito said.
During a meeting with West Virginia reporters Thursday, Capito expressed hope that the SEC and Big Ten would get on board with the bill.
“We need to have their support; they should support this,” Capito said. “It impacts their schools greatly.”
With August just around the corner, Capito said it would be important to bring some order back to college sports as football season approaches. Practices will soon be in full swing, with games right behind them.
“The importance of this, as we’re moving into football season, obviously, it would be nice to have some very positive movement,” she said.
Since the SEC and Big Ten did not ultimately lend support by the end of Thursday, the bill’s future is in flux. The Senate adjourned for the week, and while it is scheduled to meet again early next week, a recess is set for August 7.
Capito said that means that conversations will pick back up a month later.
“It doesn’t mean it’s dead, it just means we’ll go back and reconsider when we return in September,” Capito said.