A look at changes the SEC and Big Ten would like to see in college sports legislation

Federal legislation that could reframe the way college sports operates in the United States has the backing of many key players, except for possibly the two most important: The Southeastern and Big Ten conferences.

The leagues are negotiating with lawmakers for changes in the Protect College Sports Act, which has bipartisan support in the Senate but almost certainly can't become a law without changes supported by two conferences whose footprint covers 26 states (52 senators) and no fewer than 220 House districts.

“The SEC and its member universities have been vocal and collaborative with the senators throughout the bill drafting process,” Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman, the chair of the SEC presidents, said in a statement Monday. “And over the course of several weeks (we) have provided feedback from the perspective of university leaders who are trying to navigate the current state of college athletics.”

Sponsors of the bill have called the upcoming weeks crucial as they try to enshrine into law and clarify many of the provisions included in the $2.8 billion House settlement, the lawsuit agreement that opened the door for schools to share revenue with their players.

“We can’t afford to see more women’s sports and roster slots cut,” said bill co-sponsor Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., speaking to the threat posed by spiraling costs. “Congress should work together to create more stability and opportunities for all athletes, but especially women and Olympic roster slots.”

The leagues put out a memo with a 10-point list of provisions they'd like to see changed. They fall into two categories: Fixes they'd like for Title I of the bill, which has to do with the details of what gets regulated and how. And fixes for Title II, which has mostly to do with leagues pooling broadcasting rights and preventing the creation of a super league that would largely blow up the NCAA.

One of the most important issues hovering over college sports is determining what name, image and likeness compensation is. There is an argument that payments that come from third parties are specifically designed to circumvent the salary cap put in place for schools under House, which is the amount that can come from the colleges. (It will be around $21.3 million this year.)

Third-party payments above $600 have to be approved by the new College Sports Commission, which ensures the deals are for a “valid business purpose” and also pay a fair market value for what the players are providing. In short, they’re making sure players aren’t simply being paid to play at the schools, which is still forbidden under NCAA rules. They have to provide something beyond playing.

“Institutions and third parties can exploit these gaps, distorting recruiting, and competition,” the memo said. “A comprehensive framework is essential to preserve integrity and prevent an unchecked system.”

The two big conferences got one thing they sought: Including the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences among those that could not expand to create a super league, the likes of which have been floated by private-equity groups over the last year.

A few weeks after that tweak was made, the Big Ten and SEC wrote they’d like further clarifications. They want the law to forbid any new entity from coming along, swooping up dozens of teams and creating a super league, while also making sure schools remain free to move between conferences.

The SEC also wants more certainty that pooling media rights will be voluntary, not mandatory (many agree that’s an easy fix) and to keep scheduling decisions out of the reach of the law.

One of the longstanding issues for the NCAA and the leagues was to eliminate the possibility of being sued by players, mostly for actions that would restrict an athlete's eligibility.

The lawsuits that sprung from the NCAA's recent decision to give most athletes five years to complete five seasons of eligibility are Exhibit A of the sort of lawsuits college sports is trying to avoid.

The bill does create some limits to liability, but the leagues say that doesn't go far enough. They want clearer language defining what sort of legal action the law would prohibit.

“These loopholes can efficiently and effectively be closed with minor edits to the liability section,” the memo said.

Another key issue has been a federal law that would override state laws dealing with NIL. As SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey frames it, a player in Tennessee wants to know he or she is playing by the same rules as an opponent in Florida or Georgia, or Indiana, for that matter.

As written, the leagues say, the bill takes important steps in that area “but it does not go far enough.”

“It leaves several important areas — including non-NIL compensation, recruiting, and tampering, and broader eligibility issues — subject to different state laws,” the memo said.

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon's president will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to wrap up a four-day visit to Washington, in a bid to bring about long-term calm in the war-torn country after months of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

Joseph Aoun's landmark meeting with Trump comes as Lebanon and Israel continue to hold rare direct talks mediated by Washington. Lebanon hopes they will result in Israeli troops withdrawing from large swaths of southern Lebanon that they currently occupy, and for the Lebanese military to receive support to assert full control in areas where Hezbollah militants had held sway.

Lebanon and Israel announced a “framework agreement” on June 26, setting a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon as well as the disarmament of Hezbollah, which for decades had a strong presence in the area. It also lays out steps toward an eventual peace agreement between both countries, which have never held formal diplomatic ties and have been nominally in a state of war for nearly 80 years after Israel’s establishment.

The U.S. State Department announced Monday that operations in three villages deemed part of a “pilot zone” had begun, without giving details on what that entailed. Two of the three villages, Froun and Srifa, are not under Israeli military control and the Lebanese army is present there, while Israeli forces are in part of Zawtar al-Gharbieh.

The Lebanese army in a statement said it was preparing for Israel to withdraw from Zawtar al-Gharbieh and that it had begun deploying troops to the area Tuesday. The Israeli military said it “will adjust its force posture in one of the pilot areas in order to enable the Lebanese Armed Forces to carry out their mission,” without specifying the location.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with military guidelines said Tuesday that the withdrawal had not yet begun.

Aoun met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, who said Washington will continue to endorse the Lebanese agreement and support the agreement's full implementation. Rubio described the meeting as “very positive” and warned that Lebanon will “never be fully at peace” as long as the Hezbollah issue is not resolved.

“How do you replace Hezbollah? You defeat and replace them with a government that is strong enough to be the sole force of arms in the country,” Rubio said after the meeting. Skeptics in Lebanon fear that a military confrontation with Hezbollah could lead to a civil war, as government officials have also urged for investment into the country's battered infrastructure to empower the weakened state, which Rubio echoed.

“This is not just about military stuff," he added. "This is about how can we attract more U.S. and international investment into Lebanon.”

The Lebanese military last week increased its presence in some of the areas expected to be included in the pilot zone, including the three villages, with troops patrolling and setting up checkpoints. Though recent talks in Rome have signaled that the agreement’s implementation will begin soon, Israeli troops have not withdrawn from the areas under control.

Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said they plan to keep forces long term in a “security zone” in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has dismissed the direct talks brokered by the United States and instead backed Washington’s talks with their key ally and patron Iran to end their war, which also includes ending the war in Lebanon as a condition to bring back calm.

Lebanon’s government came to power on a reformist platform in early 2025, vowing to disarm all non-state groups including Hezbollah. It blames Hezbollah for dragging the country into another war with Israel in March when the militant group fired several rockets toward northern Israel after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.

Beirut's leadership, however, has condemned Israel’s subsequent ground invasion and massive aerial campaign in the country, which killed over 4,000 people and displaced 1.2 million others. While grappling with stark political opposition from Hezbollah and allies within the deeply divided country, Lebanon's leadership insists that Israeli withdrawal and international financial support for Lebanon’s cash-strapped army is crucial for a sustainable security solution.

Associated Press writer Giovanna Dell'Orto in Jerusalem contributed.

Lebanese women pass by houses that were destroyed in Israeli strikes during the war with Hezbollah in Froun village, southern Lebanon, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

A Lebanese army soldier stands at a checkpoint in Froun village, southern Lebanon, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Lebanese army soldiers stand at a checkpoint in Froun village, southern Lebanon, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)