Senator claims college sports bill likely has support to pass Senate
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 9:07 PM
Last updated Jul 17, 2026
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., stated at the AP Sports Editors meeting that the Protect College Sports Act probably has the 60 votes needed for passage in the Senate. The bill aims to standardize name, image, and likeness (NIL) regulations and provide liability protection to the NCAA and conferences. Upcoming negotiations are critical, particularly as SEC and Big Ten leaders oppose the legislation. Schmitt warned of adverse impacts on women's sports if the bill does not advance. The Senate approval would still require overcoming challenges in the House, where previous similar legislation faced significant opposition.
- •Sen. Schmitt believes Protect College Sports Act has 60 votes
- •Bill aims to standardize NIL regulations and offer liability protection
- •SEC and Big Ten leaders are negotiating changes to the bill
- •Concerns raised about potential litigation from current bill provisions
- •House approval remains uncertain following opposition to previous efforts
- 9:07 PMYahoo Sports — Senator says key piece of college sports legislation 'probably' has 60 votes to clear upper chamber
"A lawmaker sponsoring a key piece of federal college sports legislation said he believes the bill likely has the support it needs to make it through the upper chamber. “We probably have 60 votes,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said Friday at the Associated Press Sports Editors meeting. Schmitt called the next two weeks critical for the Protect College Sports Act.
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