During this week’s Big Ten Media Days, the coaches and the conference were often overshadowed by a down-to-the-wire race to get the Protect College Sports Act passed before Congress goes into its August recess. Heading into Friday evening, it seemed like the efforts to beat the self-imposed deadlines would go for naught; however, things have now taken a turn, as Big Ten presidents and ADs have officially voted to support new language that the introducers and the conference worked on this week. Notre Dame has already made it clear they support the new language and told the ACC they support it both as a member of the conference in some sports, and as a team they have an agreement with in football.
Now that the Big Ten has removed its objections, it comes down to the SEC, which is working to hold the same kind of vote that just passed the Big Ten. While the deals seemed to be over with lots of bitter language coming from Washington, especially, league executives hurriedly scheduled meetings with their respective presidents and chancellors in a stunning 11th-hour move.
The SEC held a call Friday morning to review the latest revisions. Then it held an evening meeting, trying to get enough members of the conference to sign off to allow the legislation to move forward and come to the floor of the US Senate. Notre Dame was originally against the Protect College Sports Act because it limited how and when the Irish could join a conference if they wanted to; however, part of the new language allows ND to join a conference right away (should that ever be an issue) since they are already independent.
While it no longer affects Notre Dame, some language in the new bill said that any team that wants to change conferences would have to be an independent for five years.
It is official: Big Ten presidents and chancellors voted to support the Protect College Sports Act, sources tell @YahooSports.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 1, 2026
SEC presidents and chancellors are meeting this evening. https://t.co/VWh31qz4j8
Big Ten support moves Notre Dame football-friendly bill closer to Senate vote
Ross Dellenger pinpointed one provision in the newest version of the bill that could be changed to get the Big Ten and the SEC on board.
“Thursday night and Friday's negotiations — between lawmakers and the power leagues, plus Notre Dame — resulted in the addition of language to the bill intended to strengthen a provision that prohibits schools from circumventing the athlete revenue-share cap. The language, shared with Yahoo Sports, requires school-affiliated sponsors and apparel brands to enter into an attestation process to certify that their NIL agreements are kosher, not directed by the school, and that the compensation doesn't originate from the school. Similar language is in the bill already related to NIL deals from multimedia rights partners, like Learfield and Playfly.”
Even if the SEC follows the Big Ten and approves the new bill, the Protect College Sports Act still has a hill to climb. There has been plenty of opposition in Congress to the bill, and it would need to get 60 votes in the Senate to even move to the House.
Should the bill pass and become law, it would be a massive change to college football. Notre Dame and the power conferences would get the bulk of the benefits, and it’s unclear if the lawsuits that have caused chaos the last few years would really be stopped with any legislation that doesn’t make the players employees of the schools.
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