Senator John Hoeven has promoted the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill designed to address issues caused by various state laws and court rulings, including a 2025 House v. NCAA settlement.

Hoeven stated the settlement, which allows schools to pay student-athletes directly, has disadvantaged smaller and less wealthy schools, encouraged transfer portal abuse, and caused schools to prioritise football and men’s basketball over other sports.

“The current situation facing college sports is unsustainable and unfair,” Hoeven said in a statement. “This legislation will restore the integrity of college sports … and ensure all schools are competing on a level playing field.”

Introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the bill seeks to set national standards. Proposed measures include:

• Establishing uniform eligibility rules, including a five-year cap on playing time starting from enrollment or the academic year after a student’s 19th birthday.
• Loss of eligibility for athletes entering professional sports or failing to meet academic standards.
• Requiring Division I schools to cover out-of-pocket medical costs for sports-related injuries.
• Mandating health and safety standards for all athletic programs.
• Requiring at least one free local broadcast option for football and men’s basketball games in each school’s home market.

Hoeven, who joined North Dakota State University President Marshall Stewart, University of North Dakota President Andrew Armacost, NDSU Athletics Director Matt Larsen, and UND Athletics Director Bill Chaves at a news conference, has agreed to become an official cosponsor. He intends to work with colleagues to bring the bill to a full Senate vote in September.