College Bill Moves Forward Despite Big Conference Pushback

The Senate Commerce Committee has advanced a new college sports bill to the next voting stage, sparking both support and resistance from major athletic conferences. Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell led a committee session that shifted focus toward protecting student‑athletes from the influence of powerful conferences. In a 19‑9 decision, they rejected proposals that would let the SEC and Big Ten dictate terms for all college sports. The bill aims to set clear rules on revenue sharing, player compensation and media rights pooling. Both the SEC and Big Ten released a joint statement saying they need more changes, especially around media rights and the possibility of forming a “super league. ”They argued that only specific conferences should be able to pool television deals and that certain protections should not rely on such pooling. Senators responded that the bill already includes safeguards for all conferences, and they are willing to continue lobbying. The legislation now contains language that limits player transfers and caps the amount of revenue conferences can pool together. Critics say these restrictions could lead to more lawsuits and limit student‑athletes’ freedom of movement. Proponents point out that the bill creates a stable framework for college sports, preventing any single conference from dominating. The next step is a full Senate vote before the summer recess, after which the House will decide whether to adopt the act. The outcome remains uncertain as both sides prepare for further debate and lobbying.