GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — The U.S. Senate’s overwhelming approval of legislation aimed at reshaping the rules governing college athletics could have far-reaching consequences for college athletes, coaches and universities — but a New York sports law professor says it is too early to know whether the bill will solve the problems created by the rapidly changing world of college sports.

The Senate voted 77-22 on September 28 to approve the Protect College Sports Act, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Andrew Sack, a New York sports attorney and professor of sports law at LIU Post, says the legislation could significantly alter how colleges handle NIL agreements, transfers, coaching moves and athletic department finances.

“There are still a lot of questions as to what the Protect College Sports Act will do,” Sack says. “Whether or not it will fix the problems in college sports and address the inequalities between the large schools and the small schools remains to be seen.”

What Would the Protect College Sports Act Do?
Among other provisions, the legislation would:

* Protect athletes’ ability to enter into NIL agreements, prohibiting universities, conferences and the NCAA from preventing athletes from entering such agreements.
* Require athletes to report NIL compensation exceeding $600 to their respective schools.
* Require player agents to register with a state and cap endorsement fees at 5%.
* Limit athletes to one transfer while allowing them to retain their eligibility.
* Restrict certain coaching moves, preventing football head coaches and assistant coaches from leaving their current teams to accept positions at other colleges.
* Protect roster opportunities in non-revenue sports, requiring larger athletic departments — those generating at least $80 million in revenue — to maintain the same number of grant-in-aid roster spots for non-revenue sports as they had during the 2024-25 academic year, subject to a financial hardship waiver.
* Create a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences that enter joint agreements to transfer sports telecast rights to a third party. Such an agreement would require participation by at least 75% of Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

Supporters of the legislation argue that it would bring greater stability and structure to college athletics following the dramatic changes brought about by NIL compensation and the transfer portal.

Critics, however, contend that some of the proposed restrictions could limit athletes’ rights and opportunities, particularly when it comes to transferring between schools and profiting from their NIL.

Sack says the legislation raises fundamental questions about the future of college sports. “The big issue is whether this legislation actually creates a fairer system or simply changes who has the advantage,” he says. “We need to see how these provisions would work in practice and what impact they would have on athletes, coaches and schools of different sizes.”

Sack is available for interviews about the Protect College Sports Act, the Senate vote and what the legislation could mean for college athletes, coaches, conferences and universities.

For more information, call Mr. Sack at (516) 526-3319 or The Law Offices of Steven Mitchell Sack at (917) 371-8000.

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*Photo of Mr. Sack is attached.