Last week’s deal that got the Big Ten and the SEC behind the Protect College Sports Act prompted optimism that the bill would go to a full vote on the Senate floor before an extended recess begins after this week.
That optimism has run headfirst into the reality of the political process.
As reported by Roll Call, via Sports Business Journal, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) won’t commit to a vote this week.
“[I] had several NIL conversations over the weekend, and that’s certainly, as you have all seen, probably trending in the right direction,” Thune said. “Can we produce a big vote for it on the floor? Can we get it in the queue somehow? I mean, these are all, these are some unanswered questions.”
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), one of the sponsors of the legislation, remained steadfast in his belief that a vote will happen.
“This bill is going to pass, and it’s going to pass this week out of the Senate,” Cruz said.
Cruz had a prediction as to how the bill will become law, via Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports: “It is my hope that President Trump will sign this bill into law on College GameDay this fall when the House comes back and passes it with a big bipartisan vote, following the big bipartisan vote we’re going to get in the Senate, I believe, this week.”
Time will tell. It’s not dead, but it’s not a no-brainer. With the midterm election looming, there isn’t a lot of time to get it done.
