Cruz, Cantwell Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Cap College Athlete Pay, Limit Transfers

Two key U.S. senators struck a bipartisan deal Wednesday on sweeping college sports legislation that would grant the NCAA antitrust protection to enforce salary caps, limit athlete transfers, and ban coaches from leaving mid-season.

Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, announced the Protect College Sports Act after more than two months of intense negotiations. The bill aims to address what Cantwell described as college sports being "in a bit of chaos."

"This bipartisan bill is designed to save the part of college sports that fans actually care about," Cruz said in an interview with Yahoo Sports announcing the legislation.

Transfer Portal Restrictions

The legislation would limit college athletes to one unrestricted transfer during their careers, requiring them to sit out a season if they transfer again unless specific conditions are met, such as a head coach leaving or their sport being eliminated. The bill also establishes a five-year eligibility period and prohibits professional athletes who earned compensation beyond prize money from competing in college sports.

"This is a stability bill, not just an NIL bill," Cruz told The Associated Press, referencing the name, image and likeness payments that have led to football rosters with $30 million payrolls.

Salary Cap Enforcement

Perhaps the most significant aspect involves policing the NCAA's $21.3 million per-school compensation cap established in the House settlement. Many programs have circumvented this limit by redirecting corporate sponsor cash to athletes disguised as third-party NIL deals, pushing football rosters above $30 million and men's basketball beyond $15 million in the Big Ten and SEC.

The bill would grant the College Sports Commission legal protection to enforce strict standards prohibiting fake third-party NIL deals without facing antitrust challenges. "If it's fake NIL, if it is a booster just handing an athlete a bag of cash under the table," such arrangements could be rejected, Cruz explained.

However, Cantwell emphasized that "the cap can float," allowing conferences to increase compensation limits through negotiations. "We want athletes to know that there is a mechanism of getting a higher percentage of the revenue share," she said.

The 'Lane Kiffin Rule'

The legislation includes provisions restricting coaching movement during seasons, dubbed the "Lane Kiffin Rule" after the coach's sudden departure from Ole Miss to LSU while the Rebels prepared for the College Football Playoff last season.

"It's not fair or right to poach a coach in the middle of the season while the team is still competing," Cruz said. "There's a reason the NFL has a rule that you can't do that."

Media Rights and Agent Regulations

The bill would rework the Sports Broadcasting Act to allow conferences to pool television rights, potentially adding billions to the ecosystem. Conferences participating in media pooling would be required to use a percentage of increased revenue to support women's and Olympic sports.

Additional provisions include creating an agent registry limiting fees to 5% and providing athletes with guaranteed medical care and scholarships. The legislation also creates a national NIL standard by preempting state laws.

Political Challenges Ahead

The bill faces significant hurdles in a divided Congress. While Cruz expressed optimism about bipartisan support, the legislation needs 60 votes to pass the Senate. Previous college sports bills have stalled, including the SCORE Act that was pulled from the House schedule last week after opposition from the Congressional Black Caucus and NAACP.

"Congress is hungry for any bipartisan legislation. I know America is for sure," Cantwell said regarding the bill's chances.

The announcement comes during the SEC's spring meetings in Florida, where university presidents and athletic directors are discussing potential breakaway models and collective bargaining concepts. The bill's impact on those ongoing conversations remains unclear.

The legislation aims to address mounting concerns about rising costs threatening smaller sports programs and women's athletics that form the backbone of the U.S. Olympic pipeline. With college sports seeking federal intervention amid an out-of-control transfer portal and escalating compensation battles, the Cruz-Cantwell bill represents the most comprehensive bipartisan effort yet to restore stability to the system.