Legislative Hurdles Cloud Path for Protect College Sports Act

The Protect College Sports Act is facing renewed uncertainty as it nears a potential Senate vote, as CBS Sports first reported, creating a regulatory vacuum for the collegiate sports and betting markets. Despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., filing cloture to advance the bipartisan bill, several lawmakers are demanding changes before the August recess.

Reporting from Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellinger indicates that as of Friday afternoon, there were 10 objections among Republican senators to an expedited vote, which requires unanimous consent. According to Semafor's Burgess Everett, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is weighing an amendment to cap annual ticket price increases at 4% and seeks language ensuring the NCAA is not protected from liability. Additionally, Thune told Fox Sports' Trey Wallace that the legislation requires further clarity.

Further complications emerged Thursday when Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., filed an amendment to protect state laws banning biological men from women's sports, a move CBS Sports notes could alienate Democratic support. Simultaneously, the Congressional Black Caucus opposed the bill; Chair Yvette Clarke stated that Black athletes and communities were not meaningfully engaged in shaping the legislation.

These setbacks follow recent endorsements from the SEC and Big Ten regarding revenue-sharing caps. While co-author Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, previously expressed optimism for a vote this week, co-author Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told CBS Sports' Richard Johnson that government funding priorities and the August recess have made the timeline fluid. If an expedited vote fails, the bill may not be revisited until the House and Senate reconvene in September.