Former Alabama coach urges Congress to pass college sports legislation

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday in support of the Protect College Sports Act. Saban said the legislation would create a national framework allowing the NCAA to enforce rules without repeated legal challenges.

He stated that without such certainty, every rule faces lawsuits and the system moves closer to a professional model.

Bill provisions The measure would limit athletes to one transfer without penalty, cap eligibility at five years, bar former professional athletes from college competition, and prohibit schools from hiring coaches from other programs during a sport's season. It would also authorize a spending cap on athlete compensation and provide legal cover for enforcement.

Testimony from other witnesses Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould, West Virginia president Gordon Gee, and Utah defensive end Lance Holtzclaw also appeared. Gould said data show threats to non-revenue Olympic sports are real if legislation is not passed.

Bevacqua warned that without a realistic cap, resources could concentrate among a few programs and create a super league.

Legislative background The bill is sponsored by Sens.

Maria Cantwell, Eric Schmitt, and Chris Coons. It follows a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that removed the NCAA's antitrust exemption. Tuesday's hearing was the third in five years on NIL issues, but no bill has reached a Senate floor vote.