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Former University of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban, from left, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Jim Phillips, former University of Miami student-athlete Hanna Cavinder and TCU student-athlete Haley Cavinder participate in a roundtable on the future of college athletics and the need to codify name, image and likeness rights for student athletes, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Ted Cruz says there's a 50-50 chance of Congress passing college sports legislation this year

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz says there's a 50-50 chance of Congress passing legislation regulating college athletics by the end of the year

By STEPHEN WHYNO
Published - Mar 12, 2024, 01:22 PM ET
Last Updated - Mar 12, 2024, 01:22 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Ted Cruz said Tuesday there is ’s a 50-50 chance of Congress passing legislation that would provide antitrust protection and regulation to college athletics in the U.S. by the end of the year.

Cruz lowered his previous estimate of 60-40 of a bill getting through before the election in November, saying he and his counterparts are running out of time. The Republican from Texas believes something will eventually get done to standardize how athletes can be compensated for their names, images and likenesses and to give the NCAA and college conferences the ability to govern college sports without the constant threat of lawsuits and state laws undercutting their authority.

His comments came after Cruz oversaw a roundtable discussion on the topic, highlighted by with former Alabama football coach Nick Saban, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne and Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips.

Current women's college basketball player Haley Cavinder and sister Hanna, a former player, NIL attorney Darren Heitner and Collective Association president Russell White also took part in the panel, which was joined by several other senators.

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