Running out of time: SEC, Big Ten wait on 'Protect College Sports Act' revisions as August recess nears

The Senate Commerce Committee has advanced a bipartisan bill aimed at reshaping college sports by establishing a nationwide NIL payout framework and limiting athletes to one penalty-free transfer during a five-year period.

TAMPA, FL - While the SEC was holding its annual kickoff to the upcoming football season this week in Florida, the bigger conversation was transpiring in Washington, D.C., around the 'Protect College Sports Act'.

After being passed through the Senate Commerce Committee in June, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) are racing against time for the legislation aimed at creating guardrails around NIL, eligibility issues, transfers and even a conference realignment, with the SEC and Big Ten not providing their support for the bill in its current form.

CLOCK IS TICKING AS SENATORS TED CRUZ, MARIA CANTWELL PUSH FOR SEC, BIG TEN BUY-IN ON COLLEGE SPORTS BILL

The bipartisan bill was largely created to help navigate college athletics back into a realistic situation, and out of courtrooms. After years of lobbying Congress for help, which led to the SCORE Act being created before this latest bill, there is a growing dissension between parties on how much actual help is wanted at the federal level.

After meeting numerous times this week, the revisions currently being discussed have not been presented to either conference as of Thursday evening.

Obviously, time is of the essence, which Senate Majority Leader John Thune referenced to reporters on Thursday afternoon, with him mentioning that it doesn’t look as though it will reach the Senate floor before Congress goes on its August recess.

According to sources close to the situation in Washington, Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell are still