After just a few weeks of debate surrounding legislation crafted by Sens.Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., along with Texas Tech Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell, college athletics is entering a pivotal stretch before Congress' August recess that could shape the future of the sport."If this thing does not go forward, there will be nothing that will go forward," New York Yankees president Randy Levine emphasized.Levine's involvement stems from his role on President Donald Trump's college athletics roundtable, a sign of just how unusual the politics surrounding college sports have become.
Another example would be both Levine and Campbell holding a media call last week just hours after the Senate committee voted 19-9 to advance the legislation.SENATE ADVANCES LANDMARK PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT, IGNORING SEC AND BIG TEN OPPOSITION WITH CLOCK TICKINGAnd yes, none of this has been traditional in terms of politics, besides the ongoing squabbles between certain politicians, boosters and commissioners from the two biggest conferences in college athletics.Or, maybe this is exactly how some planned for it to play out.Mark Meador, commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission, greets Sen.Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Sen.
Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., ranking member of the committee, during a hearing titled "Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission" in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2026.(Al Drago/Bloomberg)For the past month, the talk of passing this legislation has centered on whether the SEC and Big Ten would put their support around a bill that also has flaws.
What stands out the most right now?Media pooling rights, and obviously a few other lines in the bill.But, while senators have tried to stress the word "voluntary" in the legislation, skeptics remain from those within the Big Ten and SEC footprint.
There is a palpable tension in the air, and Cantwell did not try to decrease the ongoing...