Big Ten and SEC Endorse Protect College Sports Act

The Protect College Sports Act, which had faced uncertainty, gained renewed support from the Big Ten and SEC on Friday after separate conference calls among their leaders. This development comes as the bill approaches a crucial vote in Congress.

Negotiations focused on provisions to prevent schools from bypassing revenue-sharing caps through arrangements with corporate sponsors. The bill now includes a requirement for external entities to certify that deals with players are independent of institutional agreements.

Both conferences released a joint statement affirming their backing of the bill, which aims to protect women's and Olympic sports and streamline media rights sales among schools. The legislation is expected to be voted on soon, with urgency emphasized by lawmakers as the congressional recess approaches.