Bipartisan College Sports Bill with Player Salary Cap and Antitrust Shield Nears Introduction

May 27, 2026 - 11:55

A long-awaited bipartisan bill that would reshape college athletics by imposing a salary cap on players and granting antitrust protections to the NCAA and conferences is expected to be introduced within days. The legislation, spearheaded by Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Ted Cruz, has faced repeated delays but now appears poised for formal submission.

The proposed law aims to create a federal framework for compensating college athletes while shielding the NCAA from the wave of antitrust lawsuits that have challenged its amateurism model. Under the bill, schools and conferences would be allowed to set a cap on direct payments to athletes, a move designed to prevent a bidding war for top recruits. In exchange, the NCAA and its member institutions would receive limited antitrust immunity, protecting them from legal challenges over rules that restrict athlete pay.

Supporters argue the bill is necessary to bring stability to college sports, which has been in turmoil since state laws began allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Without federal action, they warn, the system could collapse under conflicting state regulations and court rulings. Critics, however, contend that a salary cap would limit athletes' earning potential and that antitrust exemptions would shield the NCAA from accountability.

The Cantwell-Cruz bill has been in the works for over a year, with multiple revisions aimed at balancing the interests of athletes, schools, and conferences. Lawmakers have struggled to reach consensus on key details, including the exact cap amount and how revenue from media rights and ticket sales would be shared. The bill's introduction is seen as a critical step, though its path to passage remains uncertain amid opposition from both sides of the aisle.