September 15, 2026
WASHINGTON -- A bill that proposes to fix some of the biggest problems in college sports -- spiraling spending, constant lawsuits and a transfer portal run amok -- cleared a major hurdle Tuesday when the Senate voted 74-24 to halt debate and move the measure one step closer to a final up-or-down vote.
The Protect College Sports Act, a bill co-sponsor Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called "a bipartisan solution designed to bring order to the chaos," easily cleared the 60-vote threshold it needed to stop the filibuster.
Co-sponsor Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said the lopsided nature of the vote left her "cautiously optimistic" it could get through the House, which has failed repeatedly to pass a different version of a college sports bill.