Congress Punts on NIL Reform—Again
The Story: The Protect College Sports Act—the Senate’s big swing at fixing NIL chaos—is stuck in neutral. Majority Leader John Thune dropped the hammer: no vote this week. Blame a packed docket (CR, Russia sanctions, nominations) and a looming month-long recess. Thune’s not even sure they can schedule a floor vote, let alone survive a filibuster.
The Numbers: Senate Commerce Committee’s still polishing the final text, but the clock’s ticking. August recess starts Friday. If they don’t move by then, September’s the next shot—assuming the bill doesn’t get buried under election-year noise.
The Spin: Trump’s cheerleading from the Oval (“very close to getting solved”) doesn’t change the math. The Big Ten and SEC, per Dan Wolken’s column, have already rigged the game in D.C. Their duopoly’s not just winning—it’s writing the rules.
NCAA’s Colorado Mess: Less Sweeping Than Feared
The Update: Judge Sweeney’s Friday-night injunction on Colorado eligibility? Not the nuclear option. It only grants a fifth year to the class of 2022 athletes who burned four seasons. Transfer rules, roster caps, and revenue-sharing limits? Still standing.
The NCAA’s Spin: Their memo doubled down: “One federal court can’t override another’s settlement.” Translation: The House case’s injunction still holds. But with Sweeney’s clarification, the panic button’s been dialed back—slightly.
USC-Notre Dame: Rivalry Reboot (But Don’t Hold Your Breath)
The Play: The Trojans and Irish are bringing back their series—in 2030. Four games locked in, starting with a home-and-home in South Bend and L.A. Sure, it’s a win for nostalgia, but let’s be real: this is a distant blip on the radar. The real action’s still in the Big Ten-SEC arms race.