The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22 on September 28, 2026, after advancing it in procedural votes on September 19 with 70-plus supporters. The bill grants the NCAA limited antitrust protection, caps conferences at 20 schools, allows one free transfer, sets a five-year eligibility window ending at 24, limits agent compensation to 5 percent, and more than doubles the cap on direct university payments to players, from about $21 million this season to $48 million. It drew endorsements from 32 conferences, over 380 colleges and universities, and the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL. The discussion has since widened: Cantwell's report shows coaching salaries up 370 percent from 2005 to 2023, the bill's roster protections for women's and Olympic…