The Big Ten logo at Big Ten Media Days at the Hilton Chicago on July 29, 2026. Credit: Reilly Cahill | Managing Sports Editor

The Protect College Sports Act is one step closer to becoming official.

The bill would establish national rules governing areas including athlete compensation, eligibility and transfers.

On Monday night, the U.S. Senate voted 77 to 22 to pass the bill. The bill goes to the House of Representatives for consideration, but its path there remains uncertain.?

In a statement released Monday night, the Big Ten expressed support for the Senate’s decision to pass the act.?

“We are pleased the Protect College Sports Act has passed the Senate, and are appreciative of the substantial work that has gone into the effort from the act’s authors, sponsors and supporters,” the document stated. “We look forward to the next steps to passage as we continue to support the act as passed by the Senate.”

NCAA President Charlie Baker released a statement Monday about the Senate’s approval of the Protect College Sports Act.??

“Student-athletes from across the country and all three NCAA Divisions worked hard to get on this legislation moving and thanks to their advocacy, the bill just received a massive, bipartisan vote in the Senate,” Baker said in the statement.

The bill establishes 28 sections outlined in the Protection of Student Athletes and Fair Competition. A few sections of the bill include rules on eligibility, transferring, paying athletes and limits on conference expansion.

The bill will adopt the NCAA’s five-year eligibility rule that was enacted in June, allowing student-athletes to play five years in college sports starting when they finish high school or once they turn 19 years old.?

Student-athletes will be allowed to transfer one time without having to sit out for a season. Exceptions include coaching changes, graduate studies or misconduct-related circumstances.?

The potential Act would give schools an additional $27.5 million to pay directly to student-athletes, with $5 million of the total going to non-revenue-generating sports.

In terms of conferences, the bill would prevent any Power 4 conference from having more than 20 members. Currently, the Big Ten has 18 teams, the ACC has 17, and the SEC and Big 12 both have 16 teams. Any school looking to change conferences would have to spend three years as an independent, until 2031.?

The bill also prevents football coaches from leaving a program for another school during the season.