Student Athlete Act of 2026

This legislation establishes federal regulations governing the eligibility of student athletes in intercollegiate athletics, aiming to create uniform standards across the nation. A key provision grants student athletes five consecutive years of eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports, irrespective of injuries or other events, thereby superseding existing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules on this matter.

The bill significantly addresses the transfer portal, empowering the NCAA to establish rules regarding the periods during which student athletes can declare their intent to transfer. Under these new rules, a student athlete's first transfer to another institution allows for immediate participation in athletic competition. However, any subsequent transfers would render the student athlete ineligible to compete during the academic year in which they entered the transfer portal.

Furthermore, the legislation provides an antitrust exemption for the NCAA specifically for its role in establishing these transfer portal rules. It also includes protections for student athletes' financial aid, requiring institutions of higher education to honor original grant-in-aid commitments. While the former institution is no longer bound upon transfer, the new institution must uphold the grant-in-aid, though institutions retain the right to revoke aid if a student athlete fails to remain in good standing. Finally, the Act asserts federal supremacy by preempting any state or local laws, regulations, or standards that conflict with its provisions or that limit the rights of student athletes, the NCAA, conferences, or institutions of higher education as defined within this federal framework.