The Senate Commerce Committee has advanced a bipartisan bill aimed at reshaping college sports by establishing a nationwide NIL payout framework and limiting athletes to one penalty-free transfer during a five-year period.

After the Big Ten and SEC agreed to throw their support behind the "Protect College Sports Act" during an intense negotiating period last week, congressional leaders have finally released final text language around the legislation.

On Monday, while meeting with reporters in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump mentioned that he was hopeful that a vote would finally take place on the Senate floor regarding the legislation that has led to plenty of contentious moments behind the scenes.

The bipartisan bill, which was first introduced by Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., along with Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., has been the talk of college athletics over the past week, which comes on the heels of a strenuous stretch of negotiations.

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While other conferences across the country had put their support behind the legislation that had yet to be finalized, the SEC and Big Ten wanted to see concessions made that would garner their approval.

After pushing for their support and pointing toward this week as when the legislation could be voted on, having this move into the month of September could end up generating a lane in which this might not be passed at all, with congressional leaders focused on midterms and other important matters for the country.

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That is obviously not in the best interest of those involved in this process, given the amount of work that has gone into putting this bill together.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti meet with reporters during a joint press conference in Nashville, Tennessee (Trey Wallace/FOX NEWS)

Last Friday, after a nudge from the White House, senators finally received the support of the two biggest conferences in college sports. But even then, those involved had not seen a final bill, rather given a walkthrough from those involved around Capitol Hill.

The night before, sources told OutKick/Fox News Digital that White House officials, along with members of Trump's college sports committee, were involved in conversations on what the next steps would be to get this to the Senate floor.

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Right now, one of the more interesting discussion points between parties involved is when this could actually be voted on. Given that final language had not been presented as of Monday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader John Thune had still not started the cloture process.

By the close of business on Monday night, and early Tuesday morning, Thune did not start the cloture procedure, and the likelihood of this getting to a vote by Friday dwindles by the day for this week.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., attend a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee roundtable on the Protect College Sports Act and collegiate athletics in the Russell Building on June 10, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

On a call with a group of reporters Monday afternoon, a Senate Commerce Committee aide mentioned that there were political hurdles in getting this to a vote before Congress takes their August recess later in the week.

Some of those other priorities for the Senate included Russia sanctions, confirmation of nominations and the CLARITY Act among others.

But, Cruz was still persistent in his message that the Senate should stay in Washington until this was passed. There are also other issues that should certainly take precedent over a college sports bill, like the ongoing fires in Spokane, where Cantwell was rightfully attending to over the weekend.

According to language in the bill, which could still be tweaked, obtained by Fox News Digital/OutKick, there were a number of changes made compared to the first version.

Among them are final amendments to the pooling of media rights, how many schools each conference is allowed to have and a retention pool that is separate from the House settlement pool that was established last year.

Schools using a Multimedia Rights partner to push funds towards an athlete, which would be a way for a school to circumvent the revenue-share cap.

A retention pool, separate from House settlement, that will allow schools to use $22.5 million for retaining players. An additional $5 million for women’s/olympic sports.

Conferences cannot exceed 19 member institutions. No, a school cannot skirt the rule

The 'Lane Kiffin Rule' is still in the bill, but it now comes with a punch.

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This provision to the bill will obviously be challenged.. The 'Lane Kiffin Rule' would also affect the school looking to make a change midseason, and start the process of finding a replacement.

An athletic department is not going to wait around until after the season ends to announce/or hire their new coach. And, if this were to be brought before a court, a coach would have a good argument that the government is hindering their ability to obtain work.

Quarterback Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns speaks at SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at Tampa Marriott Water Street on July 23, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (Getty Images)

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As for what is next, that depends on how quick this can be brought for cloture.

A number of sources have mentioned that getting this voted on by Friday evening will be a tall task. But, that doesn’t mean Senators are not going to try.

Given the amount of rebuttal this could receive from Senators who are not in favor of the 'Protect College Sports Act', like Sen. Tommy Tuberville and others, this process could drag into September when Congress returns from recess.

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Getting this to a vote this week is going to be tough. Presenting this to Senate leaders in September could present more of a path for passage, and even that part is up in the air.

Stay tuned, because the conversation around "saving college sports" has just begun.

Trey Wallace is the Sr. College Sports Reporter for OutKick. 

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