The Protect College Sports Act is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The bipartisan bill to overhaul college athletics nationwide passed the Senate
by a vote of 77-22 on Sept. 28, clearing a major hurdle and setting up a showdown in the House of Representatives. The bill aims to set guidelines for an athlete's financial compensation while limiting how many times an athlete can transfer without penalty.Both issues have changed the landscape of college athletics in recent years. Athletes are changing schools at an alarming pace, with some attending four schools in as many years, frequently going to the highest bidder. Name-brand schools have strengthened their hold on elite talent because they have more resources and can outbid others for any player.
Supporters of the bill say it would help curb a "spending spiral where virtually every athletic department is losing millions of dollars." They also say that so much money is currently being put into marquee sports such as football and basketball that the so-called "minor" sports are at risk. Some colleges have already cut some sports.
The Senate-passed bill would also address the current landscape of unlimited transfers, temporarily pause conference realignment, and create guidelines around when a college football or basketball coach can be hired away from another program.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has spoken out in favor of the bill on many occasions.
Arizona senators were split on the bill. Ruben Gallego voted for it, while Mark Kelly voted against it. Both are Democrats.
The bill's key architects are Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell.
To become law, the Protect College Sports Act has to pass the House by a majority vote. If it does, it would go to President Donald Trump, who has indicated he would sign it.
The House, however, is recessed until after the midterm elections in early November. On Monday, Cruz encouraged Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring lawmakers back to pass the bill.
Both Arizona Athletic Director Desiree Reed-Francois and Arizona State Athletic Director Graham Rossini have voiced their approval of the measure. In an update on the school's athletic department's achievements dated Aug. 3, Reed-Francois wrote:
"We believe the PCSA would help build a more sustainable future by stabilizing the current system, supporting competitive balance, and protecting women’s and Olympic sports. The bill also promotes student-athlete health and wellness and strengthens guardrails to combat tampering, while still preserving student-athletes’ ability to benefit from their name, image, and likeness."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona senators split, but Protect College Sports Act inches closer to reality
