U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville sent a memo this week to Republican legislative directors urging GOP senators not to support the Protect College Sports Act as it heads to the Senate floor.
Instead, Tuberville is pushing his own narrow bill, which regulates only eligibility and transfers, rather than the bipartisan PCSA — which would give the federal government a much broader role in regulating the sport.
A portion of the memo was obtained by Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports in which Tuberville (R-Auburn) argued why his bill is better for preserving the future of college athletics.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville sent a memo to Republican legislative directors today urging GOP senators to oppose the Protect College Sports Act and instead support his more narrow bill that only regulates eligibility (5 years) and transfers (1 time exception) and "restores enforcement." pic.twitter.com/xmtCY35UVJ
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 21, 2026
“Senator Tuberville believes Congress should address the two issues driving much of the current chaos: transfers and eligibility,” the memo read. “His legislation, the Student Athlete Act, would establish five consecutive years of eligibility, permit one penalty-free transfer, eliminate discretionary waivers, and restore meaningful enforcement authority.”
“By contrast, the Protect College Sports Act fails to establish firm transfer and eligibility rules and instead creates a broad federal system governing nearly every aspect of college athletics. The bill is framed as a path to stability and legal certainty in college sports. In reality, its core provisions would expand exceptions, invite litigation, increase uncertainty, and deepen federal involvement in college athletics. College sports do not need a federal takeover. They need clear rules governing transfers and eligibility.”
The SEC, the Big Ten, and Alabama and Auburn specifically have all spoken out against the PCSA. Whether that opposition will be enough to sway lawmakers remains to be seen.
Still, Tuberville’s bill appears to address many of the sport’s core issues without going as far as the PCSA in terms of federal intervention.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
