As the “Protect College Sports Act” makes its way through the Senate, the NFL has chimed in. Along with the NFL Players Association.
Both support the legislation.
“The National Football League applauds Senators Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell, Eric Schmitt, and Chris Coons for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the Protect College Sports Act of 2026,” the NFL said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“Healthy, stable, and thriving collegiate athletics is essential to the future of American sports, including Olympic sports, and this legislation is an important step to achieving that for the benefit of all college athletes and institutions alike.
“By utilizing proven models like the voluntary pooling of media rights under the Sports Broadcasting Act, which supports broad, fan-friendly distribution of NFL games, this legislation will support college athletics and ensure fans will be able to access their favorite games across today’s changing media landscape.
“The League looks forward to continue working with Congressional leaders as this bill moves through the legislative process.”
The NFLPA, along with the NBA Players Association, separately communicated their joint support for the bill in a letter to its sponsors.
That’s fine, but the NCAA and its members still shouldn’t need Congress to wave a magic wand. They made this mess, through decades of blatant antitrust violations. They should be expected to clean it up.
And the sports that generate significant revenue shouldn’t be expected to subsidize the ones that don’t.
