Cruz Booed While Promoting College Sports Bill

Colorado coach Deion Sanders and former Alabama coach Nick Saban back the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, which would establish national rules for name, image and likeness compensation, require disclosure of deals worth more than $600, cap agents’ fees at 5%, guarantee one transfer without loss of eligibility, regulate school revenue sharing and booster-funded pay-for-play, and provide a limited antitrust exemption while leaving athlete-employment status unresolved. The bill passed the Senate Commerce Committee with bipartisan support and backing from major conferences and many universities, but its planned Senate floor vote was delayed before the August recess and it still needs 60 votes. During a roughly nine-minute appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay at the University of Texas before its matchup with Ohio State, Sen. Ted Cruz promoted the bill but was repeatedly booed and met with “Ted, you suck” chants. Cruz said college sports had descended into “chaos” and warned that inaction could threaten athletic programs, scholarships and women’s and non-revenue sports. Supporters say the measure would bring stability, strengthen historically Black colleges and universities, and protect men’s and women’s sports, while critics—including some Senate Democrats, athlete advocates and members of the Congressional Black Caucus—say it could restrict compensation and harm Black athletes, coaches and HBCUs. The advocacy campaign, funded primarily by Texas Tech booster and oil executive Cody Campbell, has expanded its advertising budget to $6 million.