Protect College Sports Act of 2026

This bill would establish federal regulations for name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements, including a requirement for student athletes to report compensation over $600 and a 5% cap on agent fees. It proposes a permanent limit on revenue sharing with athletes based on the "House settlement" and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to collectively sell media rights under certain conditions. Additionally, the legislation would guarantee athletes one transfer without losing eligibility and prohibit football coaches from switching teams mid-season.

This bill directly affects college student athletes, who must report name, image, or likeness (NIL) compensation exceeding $600 and are granted a one-time transfer without losing eligibility. Higher education institutions, athletic conferences, and national associations like the NCAA are impacted by new restrictions on NIL limitations and revenue-sharing caps, as well as a limited antitrust exemption for pooling media rights. Additionally, sports agents are affected by new state registration requirements and a 5% cap on endorsement contract fees.

• Regulation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements. The bill prohibits schools, conferences, and athletic associations from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements, while requiring students to report compensation exceeding $600. It also mandates that agents register with a state and caps their endorsement contract fees at 5%.
• Revenue sharing limits and compensation restrictions. The bill codifies a permanent limit on revenue sharing with student athletes based on the House settlement, including an annual inflation adjustment. It prohibits institutions and related entities from providing compensation intended to circumvent these established revenue limits.
• Limited antitrust exemption for media rights. A limited antitrust exemption is established for institutions or conferences that enter joint agreements to sell sports telecasting rights to third parties. Such agreements must include at least 75% of the institutions within the Football Bowl Subdivision.
• Student athlete transfer and coaching restrictions. Student athletes are permitted one transfer without losing athletic eligibility. Additionally, the bill prevents football personnel from accepting a head coaching position at a different institution during the same season.

The bill codifies and makes permanent specific elements of the court-approved settlement in the case In re College Athlete NIL Litigation, including limits on revenue sharing with student athletes. Additionally, it establishes a limited antitrust exemption for institutions and conferences regarding the joint transfer of sports telecasting rights.

This bill aims to regulate name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes by establishing reporting requirements, capping agent fees, and codifying revenue-sharing limits. It also seeks to provide a limited antitrust exemption for institutions and conferences to collectively sell media rights and establishes rules regarding student athlete transfers and coaching changes.