Following negotiations that took place between multiple conferences around college athletics and senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and others, we have officially reached a fork in the road.There had been numerous phone calls between Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey over the last 24 hours related to their stance on the Protect College Sports Act, and whether or not each conference was prepared to put their support behind the legislation.TICK TOCK: SEC AND BIG TEN RECEIVE REVISED PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT AS SENATE VOTE TIMELINE LOOMSNow, as of Thursday evening, the mood has shifted in the nations capital as to whether this bill will ever make it to the Senate floor.Earlier in the day, after OutKick-Fox News reached out for comment regarding their stance on the ongoing negotiations, a White House official had this to say about the legislation."The White House has been following these negotiations closely, and the President has been actively engaged.President Trump wants to save college sports, and he wants the bill done"Sen.
Ted Cruz, R-Texas, talks to Sen.Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., before a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing on President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Sean Duffy for secretary of transportation in Washington, D.C., on Jan.
15, 2025.(Samuel Corum/Getty Images)Clearly, Donald Trump wanted this legislation to make its way to his desk to be signed.
But now, even with the potential for Senate Majority Leader John Thune to still bring cloture to a vote on Monday, which would allow the bill to be argued, there is dwindling optimism that anything of note will actually happen at this moment.Essentially, all parties involved could not come to an agreement on certain language in the bill in time for vote."This is the legislation we need now.It will grant student-athletes unprecedented academic, health, and wellness benefits, rein in out-of-control agents, and s...