The SEC and Big Ten are awaiting revisions to the proposed Protect College Sports Act as Congress approaches its August recess, with college-sport leaders watching closely for federal action on name, image and likeness (NIL) rules. The legislation matters because it could create a national framework for athlete compensation and reduce the patchwork of state laws currently shaping college athletics.

The Senate Commerce Committee has advanced a bipartisan college-sports bill that would establish nationwide NIL payment rules and limit athletes to one penalty-free transfer during a five-year period. Discussion of the bill coincided with the SEC’s annual football media event in Florida, while the substantive negotiations continued in Washington.