Protect College Sports Act Advances After Charlie Woods NIL Deal

By Staff Writer

September 29, 2026

2 min read

LoopGolf

Key takeaways

The Protect College Sports Act passed the Senate 77-22 on Monday, Sept. 28, and now heads to the House.
The bill would set a national framework for college athletics and expand revenue-sharing between schools and athletes.
It includes provisions aimed at protecting funding for Olympic and non-revenue sports, a category that includes golf.
The legislation would not eliminate outside NIL deals like the one Charlie Woods signed with TaylorMade this month.

The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act by a 77-22 vote on Monday, Sept. 28, sending it to the House of Representatives in what backers call the most significant proposed overhaul of college athletics in years. The bill arrives weeks after TaylorMade signed golfer Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, to a name, image and likeness deal, a sign of how the legislation could touch even smaller college sports.

What does the Protect College Sports Act do?

The bill, backed by eight co-sponsors led by Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., would create a national framework for college sports governance and expand revenue-sharing between schools and athletes. Cruz said the goal is "bringing order to chaos" in a system he argues lost consistent rules after courts struck down NCAA transfer and eligibility limits.

The legislation would not restrict outside NIL agreements, such as endorsement deals with equipment makers. Athletes could still sign with brands independent of any school-administered revenue-sharing pool. The bill would also direct schools to steer added revenue-sharing funds toward women's and Olympic sports -- a category that includes college golf.

The bill would not eliminate NIL deals like the one Charlie Woods signed with TaylorMade -- it aims to bring a national framework to how schools share revenue with athletes.

How does this affect Charlie Woods and college golf?

Woods, committed to Florida State and entering his senior year of high school, became one of the most visible junior golfers to land a paid NIL deal when TaylorMade signed him this month. Paid manufacturer deals remain uncommon in college golf; one Division I coach estimated only a few dozen players hold them. The bill's Olympic-sports provisions aim to help preserve scholarships and roster spots in golf as schools redirect budgets toward football and basketball revenue-sharing.

The bill still needs a House vote before it could reach President Donald Trump's desk.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Protect College Sports Act?

Federal legislation creating a national framework for college athletics, including revenue-sharing rules between schools and athletes. It passed the Senate 77-22 on Sept. 28.