The Protect College Sports Act just cleared its first hurdle. Here’s how everyone reacted.

The Protect College Sports Act cleared the Senate Commerce Committee on a 19-9 bipartisan vote Wednesday, advancing to the full Senate floor for what would be the first-ever chamber vote on comprehensive college sports legislation.

The bill — sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) — addresses NIL regulation, transfer rules, eligibility standards, coaching movement restrictions and a media rights pooling framework modeled on the NFL’s Sports Broadcasting Act. It carries backing from 24 conferences, 267 schools across 49 states, the NCAA, the NFL, MLB, NBA, NFLPA and NBPA.

The SEC and Big Ten remain opposed.

Diehard’s coverage: We broke down the bill’s key provisions and who they protect in Who the Protect College Sports Act actually protects, and examined the structural class warfare driving the legislation around The moat.

Here is how the key stakeholders reacted after the vote.

The Sponsors

Sen. Ted Cruz: "No one got everything they wanted. But, we did create a framework that stabilizes college athletics. No more punting. We’re in fourth-down territory. It’s time to go for it."

Sen. Maria Cantwell: "What we did today was say we’re not going to let the most powerful, richest conferences dictate to the rest of America what’s going to happen to 500,000 athletes."

Cruz said Senate Majority Leader John Thune intends to bring the bill to the floor in July. The bill needs 60 votes to pass.

In Support

NCAA President Charlie Baker endorsed the bill ahead of the vote: "As a former governor, I understand that getting important legislation done requires compromise. While the bill does not address every issue college sports face, the current state of play cannot continue, and we must move the bill forward."

On3: NCAA president Charlie Baker formally endorses Protect College Sports Act

NFL: "Healthy, stable, and thriving collegiate athletics is essential to the future of American sports, including Olympic sports, and this legislation is an important step." The league specifically praised the media rights pooling provision.

ESPN: NFL, MLB, NFLPA, NBPA tell Congress they back college sports bill

NFLPA and NBPA (joint statement): The bill "includes several important provisions designed to protect college athletes, including guaranteeing NIL rights and providing medical and healthcare benefits."

Senate Commerce Committee: The committee’s post-vote press release confirmed support from 24 collegiate athletic conferences — including all six Group of 6 conferences (AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt and Pac-12) — and 267 colleges and universities across 49 states.

Senate Commerce Committee: Protect College Sports Act Heads to Senate Floor

In Opposition

SEC and Big Ten (joint statement, morning of the vote): "From the outset, we identified a set of essential revisions to the PCSA necessary for the long-term sustainability of college athletics. We have worked with both majority and minority staff to advance those revisions, which focus on better supporting student-athletes and stabilizing the college sports environment. We continue to believe revisions are needed to secure our support for the bill. Despite our sustained engagement and good faith efforts, these critical revisions have not been accepted."

SEC Sports: Joint Statement from the Big Ten and SEC

SEC and Big Ten (second statement, evening after Cantwell’s remarks): The two conferences’ university presidents and chancellors issued a second statement rebutting Cantwell’s characterization of their engagement, claiming they had only a single 30-minute call with the bill’s sponsors before the legislation was released.

On3: Big Ten, SEC release new statement on Protect College Sports Act

Paul Finebaum argued Cruz and Cantwell are deliberately targeting the SEC and Big Ten: "You’ve got a senator here, who co-sponsored this bill, who is out to get the SEC and the Big Ten. These laws are directed right now to curtail the growth of the two biggest leagues in the game."

On3: Paul Finebaum calls out politicians behind Protect College Sports Act

National Coverage

ESPN — Dan Murphy provided the most comprehensive vote-day recap, noting this is the first time in six years that a college sports bill has passed a Senate committee. Cruz told ESPN: "The greatest threat to college sports is inaction."

ESPN: Protect College Sports Act headed to Senate for full vote

Yahoo Sports — Ross Dellenger reported that Cantwell ripped SEC and Big Ten commissioners for their continued opposition, saying "People have to wake up" and accusing the conferences of "threatening intimidation on the schedule."

Yahoo Sports: Big Ten, SEC commissioners ripped by key senator

CBS Sports — Covered the vote with a focus on the SEC and Big Ten’s opposition and the late revision lowering the anti-super league revenue threshold from $1 billion to $700 million — a change that now freezes conference membership for the ACC and Big 12 in addition to the SEC and Big Ten.

CBS Sports: Protect College Sports Act passes Senate committee amid Big Ten, SEC opposition

Fox News — Trey Wallace framed the vote as a historic milestone achieved over the objections of the two most powerful conferences, with sponsors facing a 50-day window before the Senate recess.

Fox News: Senate advances landmark Protect College Sports Act

Associated Press — Ralph D. Russo’s wire story noted two Republicans (Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Todd Young of Indiana) voted against the bill, along with seven Democrats. The story was syndicated across dozens of outlets nationally.

AP via Spokesman-Review: Protect College Sports Act moves out of Senate committee

Washington Post — Published a post-vote analysis examining whether the SEC and Big Ten could actually break away from the NCAA and form a super league. Sports law professor Michael LeRoy told the Post: "The economics are simply pointing in that direction."

Washington Post: The Big Ten and SEC don't like the college sports bill. Can they break away?

Front Office Sports — Amanda Christovich noted this is the first comprehensive college sports bill to advance through a Senate committee in six years and that no floor vote has been scheduled yet despite Cruz’s stated timeline.

Front Office Sports: Protect College Sports Act Advances in Senate Committee Vote

Analysis and Opinion

NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk — Mike Florio reported, citing Puck’s John Ourand, that a Capitol Hill source said the bill likely won’t pass before the November midterms: "The Senate doesn’t have the bandwidth to do this right now. I don’t think anything gets done in the Senate before November, let alone a controversial bill like this." Only 39 legislative days remain in the current session. If the bill doesn’t pass before Election Day, the process resets with a new Congress.

NBC Sports: Report: 'Protect College Sports Act' won't pass before midterms

The Hill — Covered the vote with the political breakdown: 12 Republicans and 7 Democrats voted yes; 2 Republicans and 7 Democrats voted no.

The Hill: Senate panel advances bill to regulate college sports

Texas Tribune — Gabby Birenbaum reported Cruz described this as "a stability bill, not just an NIL bill" and expressed concern that without action, programs like Houston, Baylor, TCU, SMU, Texas Tech and Rice could "go under."

Texas Tribune: Ted Cruz bill to regulate college sports in NIL era advances

John Canzano — Investigated the bill’s anti-expansion clause, which freezes conference membership for leagues earning over $700 million annually. Rep. Mike Baumgartner told Canzano: "My interests are in schools such as Washington State and Oregon State. I don’t want a second NFL." Baumgartner provided documentation of the "PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN CONFERENCE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS" language in Section 7.

John Canzano: Eyes Wide Open on College Sports Act

Kyle Saunders (Sacred Cow BBQ) — Named the G6 programs most directly affected. The bill’s $80 million revenue threshold triggers coaching pay restrictions — and UConn, South Florida, Oregon State, San Diego State and Boise State already exceed it. Memphis, James Madison and Utah State are approaching it. Meanwhile, the $700 million conference merger ban prevents power leagues from absorbing any of them. "The rescue starts to look like something else," Saunders wrote. The bill caps their spending and locks the door above them.

Kyle Saunders: Imagine a World Without Rice

What Happens Next

The bill goes to Senate Majority Leader John Thune for floor scheduling. Cruz says he expects a vote in July. The bill needs 60 votes to pass the full Senate. The Senate recesses August 10.

A House companion bill (H.R. 9137) was introduced June 4 by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.). Even if the Senate passes it, House passage is uncertain — the previous SCORE Act was pulled from the House floor twice for lack of support.

The committee vote was 19-9. Whether there are 60 votes on the full floor is the open question — and a 39-day clock is ticking.

This is a developing story. Diehard Sports Network will continue tracking the Protect College Sports Act and its implications for Group of 6 programs.