Overview
- Indiana coach Curt Cignetti warned on Thursday that rising market-driven costs for rosters could make college football unsustainable within 12 to 24 months unless rules change.
- Senators Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz have unveiled the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, which would create a hard salary cap, a one-time transfer rule, limits on former pros, and an antitrust exemption to let national rules stand up in court.
- Conference leaders are already debating responses after Big Ten spring meetings where presidents, athletic directors, and coaches discussed how NIL deals and the transfer portal are driving costs and roster churn.
- Cignetti disputed media claims that Indiana spent about $40 million on its 2025–26 roster, saying that figure is roughly double the program’s reality and that IU’s actual spending is closer to half that amount.
- If passed, the bill’s antitrust exemption and new rules could curb player mobility and spending and shift recruiting and budgeting for programs, while universities and conferences face pressure to agree on enforcement or seek alternative reforms.