SEC, Big Ten withhold support for landmark college sports bill

June 3, 2026 - 09:33

The Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference have announced they will not back the current version of a bipartisan bill aimed at reshaping college athletics. In a joint statement released Tuesday, the two powerhouse leagues said the proposed legislation, which seeks to establish a federal framework for athlete compensation and oversight, fails to address key concerns.

The bill, which has been touted as a landmark effort to bring stability to the chaotic landscape of college sports, would create a national standard for name, image, and likeness deals. It would also grant the NCAA limited antitrust protection. However, the SEC and Big Ten argue that the draft does not go far enough to protect competitive balance or limit the influence of third-party boosters.

"We cannot support the bill in its current form," the statement read. "While we appreciate the effort to create a federal solution, the language as written does not adequately protect the integrity of collegiate competition or provide clear boundaries for athlete compensation."

The decision by the two most powerful conferences in college football is a significant blow to the bill's momentum. Without their backing, the legislation faces an uphill battle in Congress. Other conferences and the NCAA have yet to issue formal responses, but the SEC and Big Ten's stance signals a deep divide over how to regulate a multibillion-dollar industry that is rapidly evolving. Lawmakers will now need to decide whether to amend the bill or risk losing the support of the sport's biggest players entirely.