The Big Ten announced Wednesday that it is adopting a conference-level rule limiting school involvement in third-party NIL deals in preparation for the passage of the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA).
The Protect College Sports Act, which has passed the Senate but has yet to be voted on by the House of Representatives, would establish a $49 million compensation framework for schools. That figure combines the $21.58 million in direct athlete payments currently permitted under the House settlement with an additional $27.5 million cap on institutional involvement in third-party NIL deals.
“While we await the passage of the Protect College Sports Act, which has our full support, it is imperative our member institutions can begin to plan, budget and build their rosters approximating the act’s economic structure,” Big Ten Council of Chancellors/Presidents Chair Pamela Whitten said on behalf of the presidents and chancellors.
“Our institutions remain in full support of the Protect College Sports Act and this rule not only allows for a much smoother transition into the policies put in place by the act once it passes, but demonstrates our commitment to it.”
Big Ten announces it has passed a rule capping school wide roster spend at $49 million (3rd party + school rev share) mirroring what is in the protect college sports act.
This basically sets the framework for its football programs to work under in the upcoming portal and roster retention cycle.
It is unclear what will happen to this rule if the PCSA doesn’t pass, but the league is fully in support of the bill passing. House members will be back in DC after Election Day.
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (@RJ_cfb) October 28, 2026
The Big Ten implementing the rule now is “intended to both guide member institutions and alert the public as to Big Ten institutional constraints in upcoming NIL discussions with student-athletes.”
“The rule effectively requires Big Ten institutions to initiate the financial and operational mechanisms necessary to comply with PCSA limits in advance of upcoming signing and transfer portal windows,” the conference said. “The rule is effective immediately and each institution and its lead athletics staff must attest their compliance with the rule.”
The third-party NIL restrictions apply to institutional involvement in arranging such deals, while student-athletes remain free to pursue NIL opportunities independently with any entity, whether associated with their school or not.
