Sen. Cantwell reveals difficult financial picture for schools as College Sports Act is debated

With the Clarity Act voted down Tuesday on the Senate floor, the path cleared for an imminent vote on the Protect College Sports Act, the bill with eight co-sponsors and headlined by the work of Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).

As Senators spoke on the floor late Tuesday afternoon ahead of an expected floor vote Wednesday, Cantwell released a financial report that she first touted during Monday’s press conference just steps from the U.S. Capitol.

Cantwell had cited during that session a “300% increase in recruiting” costs for many collegiate athletics departments.

The report cited July 2026 Government Accountability Office data that showed “94% of all (NCAA) Division I athletics programs now spend more than they generated in athletics revenue in academic year 2023-24, resulting in campus deficits that must be covered through institutional subsidies, student fees, public support or resources that could otherwise strengthen the academic mission.” It also noted that in the past three years, the timeframe in which Cantwell and Cruz worked together to form the 171-page bill, that NCAA institutions have eliminated more than 100 women’s and Olympic (non-revenue) programs.

The NCAA also has denoted increased overall participation nationwide in…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/