The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) on Monday, 77-22. In August the bill could not get to the floor. Two weeks ago it cleared a procedural vote, 74-24. Now it goes to the House, which is not expected to take it up before the November 3 midterms.
The market moved
What the Senate passed in the PCSA:
A federal NIL framework that preempts state NIL laws.
The House v. NCAA settlement's revenue-share cap written into law, with a retention fund and money for women's and Olympic sports on top.
One transfer without sitting out. A second free move only if the head coach leaves, the sport is cut, the athlete starts a graduate degree or the athlete is a victim of sexual assault or harassment by someone at the school.
A five-year eligibility window, with exceptions for injury.
Agents register with a state, certify that registration to the NCAA, and cap their fees at 5%.
It stays neutral on employee status and does not provide for collective bargaining.
So what: as written, a first transfer is free and a second costs a season, starting with the first portal window after the PCSA becomes law. How many times a player has moved becomes a line on every eligibility check.
Still open: House Republicans have signaled they want changes to the PCSA, and any amendment sends it back to the Senate.
This week's read
This week's Ledger starts a level down: five FCS players who broke out on the weekend of September 25 and 26, and where each one came from.
Khalid Bueno played in four games as a freshman at Stony Brook last season. On Saturday he had three sacks at Fordham, and he leads the CAA with 7.5.
Byron Perrilliat, an Alabama A&M freshman, ran for 223 yards at Florida A&M on Saturday, both touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and Alabama A&M beat Florida A&M for the first time since 1979.
Three more are in the piece, including a Harvard safety who tied a school record on a Friday night in pouring rain and wind. Every entry traces the player's road from high school to Saturday and links to his profile.
The Toolbox
Read a breakout against the level before you read it against a list.
Check who it came against. Twelve tackles against the No. 19 team in the FCS, the line Donavan Frederick put up for North Carolina A&T on Saturday, is a different day from twelve against a team still looking for its first win.
Put last season next to it. Daniel Sellers had three sacks in 12 games for Richmond last season. He had three against Furman on Saturday.
Read the road. Frederick started at Campbell. The other four are at the school they signed with. Know the road before you read the line.
The Trusted Takeaway
The Senate voted Monday to make a first transfer free and a second cost a season. Until the House acts, the rule on every board is the one in place today.