Cruz Eyes Senate Vote on College Sports Act This Week — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Ted Cruz expects a Senate vote on the Protect College Sports Act this week or next, before the Senate breaks for midterm recess, and made a nearly 10-minute pitch Saturday on ESPN's "College GameDay" where he was booed by the University of Texas crowd behind him.
- The Protect College Sports Act, co-sponsored by Cruz and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, would put guardrails around escalating spending in college sports now that schools can pay players via NIL, and is backed by major conferences, Senate leadership and President Donald Trump.
- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) is the bill's most outspoken opponent, arguing it would allow "colleges and conferences and the NCAA to illegally collude," and was joined by NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson in highlighting that the most valuable athletes are predominantly Black while those protecting billions in revenue are white.
- The Congressional Black Caucus opposes the bill, with Johnson arguing any college sports legislation must guarantee athletes "a real voice, fair economic rights, long-term health and educational security" and protect HBCUs.
- High-profile coaches including former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Colorado's Deion Sanders, Arkansas' John Calipari, Gonzaga's Mark Few and Houston's Kelvin Sampson have appeared in national commercials backing the bill, with Calipari saying it "clears up about 75-80% of our issues."
- Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, meaning the bill could clear without Democratic support — but Cruz has explicitly said he wants a "big bipartisan vote" to pressure the House to follow.
Why it matters: With Republicans holding a 53-47 Senate majority, the bill could pass without Democratic votes — but Cruz has explicitly said he needs a 'big bipartisan vote' to pressure the House. Sen. Chris Murphy's 'illegal collusion' framing, backed by the NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus, threatens that bipartisan cover and gives the bill a racial-justice vulnerability that a coaches' ad blitz can't paper over before recess.
Ask SkimNews
