Protection of College Sports Act

The Protection of College Sports Act aims to establish a federal framework for the modern era of collegiate athletics by codifying Executive Order 14322. The bill proposes to protect the financial and academic status of student-athletes by ensuring they are not classified as employees, which would keep their scholarships as non-taxable academic benefits. It also seeks to prevent future labor and antitrust disputes that have recently disrupted the traditional college sports model.

To address funding concerns, the legislation would require large university athletic departments with budgets exceeding $125 million to increase scholarship opportunities for women’s and non-revenue sports. Smaller departments would also be required to meet specific benchmarks to ensure these programs are not disproportionately cut. Additionally, the bill proposes to ban third-party "pay-for-play" funds that act as endorsement pools, while still allowing athletes to receive compensation for the fair market value of their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

If enacted, the bill would create national standards for athlete compensation and program funding, potentially overriding the current patchwork of state laws. For everyday citizens and families of student-athletes, this could mean more stable scholarship opportunities in sports like track, swimming, or gymnastics, and clearer rules regarding how college athletes can legally earn money from endorsements without losing their student status.