Deion Sanders has joined Nick Saban on the same side of college sports’ latest big-money fight, and the two coaching heavyweights are now helping push the Protect College Sports Act toward a Senate vote.
Sanders, the Colorado head coach, followed Saban into the public campaign this week with his own commercial backing the bill. Saban had already gone on camera and testified earlier this summer in front of the Senate Commerce Committee, making it clear where he stands on the NIL mess.
“Congress does not need to micromanage college athletics,” Saban said. “Congress does need to fix the mess in the courts and create a national framework so the people inside college sports can enforce fair rules.”
The bill, sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Maria Cantwell of Washington, is designed to replace the current patchwork of state NIL laws with one national standard.
It would give student-athletes a federal right to earn name, image and likeness money, while also requiring them to report deals worth more than $600 to their school. Agents would be limited to taking 5% of an endorsement contract.
The proposal also includes one transfer without losing eligibility, and it would make the revenue-share cap from the House settlement permanent with a yearly inflation adjustment. That settlement allows schools to share up to $20.5 million with athletes for the 2025-26 season.
Another major piece is the limited antitrust exemption, which would allow the NCAA and conferences to enforce their own rules without being dragged into nonstop lawsuits. The bill does not take a position on whether athletes should be considered employees.
Sanders’ ad leans into the nickname that made him a star long before he got to Colorado.
“The biggest crowds. The brightest lights.
Now that's Prime Time,” Sanders said in the ad. “That's why I support the Protect College Sports Act.
It gives student-athletes a chance to shine on and off the field; strengthens Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and keeps both men's and women's sports strong. Help student-athletes get their Prime Time moment, baby.”
Both commercials are part of a campaign said to be worth about $5 million to $6 million, with most of the funding coming from Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell, who created the nonprofit behind the ads.
The push is happening as lawmakers return from the August recess. Senators came back on Sept. 14, and Cruz along with Sen.
Eric Schmitt of Missouri have said a vote is guaranteed after the break. The catch is on the House side: it voted to trim two weeks from its September schedule, which means it will leave on Sept. 17 and not return until mid-November.
That creates a delay even if the Senate moves the bill forward. Cruz has said he wants President Donald Trump to sign it into law on ESPN’s “College GameDay” before the year ends.
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