NCAA Claims New Act Could Overrule Sorsby's Legal Challenge
WHO:
AP News - Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference Commissioner, and Tony Petitti, Big Ten Commissioner.
NBC Sports - NCAA president Charlie Baker
NBC Sports - Brendan Sorsby, a college athlete involved in a legal challenge
Fox News - Sen. Rand Paul, proposing legislation related to college sports
WHAT:
AP News - Sankey outlined about two dozen fixes to a Senate bill in a letter to SEC presidents and chancellors, expressing concerns that the bill could increase litigation rather than reduce it.
AP News - The Senate bill, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz and co-sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell, is described as a 111-page measure that would need 60 votes to clear the Senate.
NBC Sports - The NCAA believes the “Protect College Sports Act” would override Sorsby’s legal challenge and allow the NCAA to maintain its eligibility restrictions.
NBC Sports - The NCAA aims to use the Sorsby ruling as a springboard to obtain a comprehensive Congressional solution for antitrust exemption.
Fox News - Sen. Rand Paul proposes the Collegiate Sports Integrity Act to remove antitrust liability in college sports.
WHERE:
NBC Sports - The NCAA's memo was sent to Division I conference commissioners.
WHY:
AP News - Sankey stated that the bill's provisions allowing athletes to file civil lawsuits could lead to "unintended legal exposure" and increase litigation.
NBC Sports - The NCAA seeks to manipulate public opinion and political action in response to the Sorsby case to achieve its goals.
Fox News - Sen. Rand Paul believes the future of college sports should not be dictated by Congress, advocating for stakeholder governance instead.
HOW:
AP News - Sankey called for the bill to broaden the preemption clause to include recruiting inducements, tampering, and non-NIL compensation, which could help address legal concerns.
NBC Sports - The NCAA leaked a memo regarding the potential impact of the “Protect College Sports Act.”
(UPDATED June 13, 2026 19:21 UTC)
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey has raised significant concerns about a Senate bill introduced by Senator Ted Cruz and co-sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell, outlining nearly two dozen proposed fixes in a letter to SEC presidents and chancellors. Sankey warned that the bill, which is a lengthy 111-page measure requiring 60 votes to pass, could unintentionally increase litigation by allowing athletes to file civil lawsuits. He urged for the bill to expand its preemption clause to cover issues like recruiting inducements, tampering, and non-NIL compensation to better address these legal challenges.
--
(UPDATED June 13, 2026 08:08 UTC)
The NCAA is pushing for the “Protect College Sports Act,” which they believe would help them maintain eligibility restrictions in light of a legal challenge from college athlete Brendan Sorsby. In a recent memo sent to Division I conference commissioners, the NCAA aims to use the Sorsby ruling to advocate for a broader Congressional solution for antitrust exemption, while Senator Rand Paul is proposing the Collegiate Sports Integrity Act to eliminate antitrust liability in college sports. Paul argues that the future of college athletics should not be determined by Congress, instead calling for a governance model that includes stakeholders.