The presidents of Kentucky's nine public higher education institutions are urging U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul to support federal legislation governing college athletics, citing a chaotic landscape created by conflicting state laws and rapid changes in athlete compensation.

In a letter dated September 9, the university leaders expressed support for the Protect College Sports Act of 2026, which would establish nationwide rules for name, image and likeness compensation, athlete eligibility, transfers and other changing areas of college sports. The bipartisan measure has already advanced from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate debate is scheduled to begin as early as mid-September.

The letter was signed by leaders of the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Kentucky Community and Technical College System and Kentucky State University.

"College athletics is operating in an increasingly uncertain environment shaped by a patchwork of state laws, ongoing litigation, and rapidly changing rules governing NIL, transfers, eligibility, and athlete compensation," the presidents wrote in the letter.

The university leaders emphasized the legislation would benefit programs beyond major football and basketball operations. Kentucky's public institutions range from Power Four programs to regional universities where athletics play significant roles in enrollment and community engagement.

A key concern centers on how changing compensation models could strain women's sports and Olympic sports programs that generate less revenue than football and basketball. The presidents warned that without uniform national standards, "institutions face growing uncertainty and competitive imbalances that make long-term planning difficult."

The federal bill would establish requirements for NIL agreements and provide limited antitrust exemptions for colleges, conferences and associations. It would cap agent fees at 5 percent of athlete earnings and prohibit schools from reducing scholarships based on NIL deals.

The Trump administration has endorsed the bill, citing the need for national standards in an area currently governed by disparate state regulations.