Hurley Backs Protect College Sports Act as Senate Advances Bill

The UConn men's basketball coach endorsed federal NIL and transfer rules, while Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut voted against the legislation.

UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley said Tuesday that he supports the Protect College Sports Act, the bipartisan bill moving through Congress that would set national rules for athlete pay and transfers.

Hurley said the legislation addresses the two issues long raised by players: compensation and the freedom to transfer. He added that college sports needs a uniform set of rules to operate.

The Senate advanced the bill on a 74-24 vote last week, moving it toward a possible floor vote and further debate in the House. Hurley said he had planned to lobby alongside other prominent coaches but missed the trip because of the flu.

The bill, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Maria Cantwell of Washington, would bar schools and conferences from blocking NIL deals while requiring deals over $600 to be reported. Athletes could transfer once without losing a season of eligibility, with total eligibility set at five years.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy was among the opponents, saying the bill protects a system that suppresses athlete compensation. Hurley said he has spoken with Murphy about the legislation but declined to share details, while also questioning whether collective bargaining between the NCAA and athletes would be practical given the number of teams and players involved.