U.S. Senator Ted Cruz encountered sustained jeers and chants of "Ted, You Suck!" during his appearance on ESPN's College GameDay program Saturday morning in Austin, Texas, ahead of the No. 4 Texas versus No. 1 Ohio State football game.
GameDay host Rece Davis interviewed Cruz for nearly 10 minutes. Cruz used the segment to pitch the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill he co-authored with Senator Maria Cantwell that is moving through Congress.
The bill aims to impose federal order on college athletics by establishing a national standard for name, image, and likeness deals that would override state laws. It also proposes limiting athletes to one free transfer during their careers, setting a five-year eligibility window beginning around age 19, capping agent fees at 5 percent, and barring coaches from changing teams midseason—a provision known as the "Lane Kiffin Rule."
The legislation also seeks to grant the NCAA limited antitrust protection to enforce rules across sports and includes safeguards for Olympic sports programs.
Cruz and some coaches say the bill will bring order to a system they describe as chaotic, marked by uncontrolled NIL spending, the transfer portal, and various lawsuits. But the Austin crowd made clear it disagreed, maintaining loud opposition throughout his appearance.
