Are you tired of Senate updates yet? Me too.

But here’s the deal. It’s looking less and less likely that there will be a vote on the Protect College Sports Act by the end of the week. 

Here’s what Ross Dellenger wrote Thursday morning:

The Protect College Sports Act isn’t dead — far from it — but it remains in a murky place as senators sift through a traffic jam of items in their last full week before a five-week recess (everyone waits until the deadline to get their homework done, right?). If the act isn’t voted on before the Senate breaks for recess on Friday — there’s buzz that lawmakers may stay til Saturday — then time has a chance to kill another deal.

Many believe the votes are there not only for the necessary 60 but for as many as 70 and beyond (some disagree).

Since then, though, some impactful endorsements against the bill have come out to provide hurdles at a crucial time. 

That includes the Congressional Black Caucus, who famously helped kill the SCORE Act in the House the very day it was supposed to be voted on. 

The White House did release a statement in favor of the bill, but it may be all for naught, according to Dellenger’s latest tweet (as of writing this Thursday night). 

We will certainly know more on Monday. 

Here’s most of what the current version of the bill would do:

• Provide antitrust protection for:

  • One-time transfer rule

  • Five years to play five eligibility

  • No professional athletes returning to college

  • Creating an agent registry and a 5% max fee

• Push the revenue sharing cap from $21.3 million to $48.8 million

  • $22 million retention pool

  • $5 million women’s sports pool

• Create a strict verification process for any other NIL deals – they have to be with outside entities and not connected to the school at all

• Limits conference size to 19 (basically a Notre Dame clause for the Big Ten)

  • Any team moving from power league to power league has to be independent for 5 years

• Coaches can’t leave their team before the season ends

Let’s get to the part of the newsletter that’s more fun:

Big 12 Anonymous Player Survey: Toughest Individual Matchup

We’re finishing up the Big 12 Anonymous Player Survey today. 

I asked Big 12 players which opposing player last year was the toughest matchup for them. The answer should come as no surprise. It was a tie between the league’s highest-drafted player and the player who finished highest in the Heisman voting.

Big 12 players said the toughest matchups in the conference last season were…Texas Tech DE David Bailey and LB Jacob Rodriguez.

Texas Tech’s David Bailey – 3
Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez – 3
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson – 2
BYU’s interior OL – 1
Colorado’s Jordan Seaton – 1
Utah’s John Henry Daly – 1
Cincinnati’s Tawee Walker – 1
BYU’s Evan Johnson – 1
Texas Tech’s running backs – 1
Utah’s Spencer Fano – 1
TCU’s Eric McAllister – 1
Texas Tech’s Sheridan Wilson – 1
Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter – 1

Here’s what the players had to say:

“Bailey just impacted the game. We would chip him, and he would still be there like that.” 

“I think the second overall draft pick was. That was a great overall challenge, and I had a fun time playing those guys.”

“Jacob Rodriguez. Nobody else has the confidence to punch the ball out every play.” 

“Tech’s edge rushers and Jacob Rodriguez. They were just absolutely nuts.” 

“One of the boys on Texas Tech. That linebacker is pretty good.” 

“Lee Hunter was. I had to go against him every day in practice. I probably had to go against him more than anyone.” 

“Texas Tech’s overall team.” 

“(Sheridan Wilson) just great technique from him. Low pad level, great hands. Great leverage. To play competition like that was great.” 

“Tyson’s elusiveness and ability to track the ball. And he was healthy against us.”

“Tyson was so elusive and quick and tough. Just a good player.”

What You Need to Know

• The preseason coaches poll is out. Here are the four Big 12 teams who will start the season in the Top 25. 

• Yet another blue blood school dropped a series against a Big 12 team. 

• Many Big 12 schools, including Houston and Arizona, may add significant pieces to their football roster after a judge’s ruling this week that gave 2022 high school graduates an extra year of eligibility. 

• Need to run through a brick wall? Check out Iowa State’s Jimmy Rogers explaining why he picked his team to win the Big 12 this year. 

• This is from the Big Ten, but you have to hear Purdue’s new AD deliver the worst zinger I’ve ever heard that definitely won’t ever backfire on him.

• Want your Big 12 news and analysis in podcast form? Listen to Open For Business at the gym, in your car, or first thing in the morning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

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