In recent years, Michigan State men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo has made his views well known on the current state of college athletics.
Now, he’s calling for the reformative Protect College Sports Act to make its final steps through Congress.
Izzo pushes Protect College Sports Act as necessary legislation
Michigan State head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo answers a question during the first day of practice press conference at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026.
On Wednesday, Izzo spoke to reporters about the coming season, his hopes for a new, highly talented roster and the annual Izzone Campout. But he spent a majority of his time weighing in on the changes he wants to see within college athletics.
“I’m a big-time proponent of something's got to happen, and people got to know something's got to happen,” Izzo said. “It's out of control. It's the Wild West.”
The first of its kind bill would establish federal regulations for the NCAA after patchy state laws and court rulings fractured long standing rules in college sports. The legislation would give the NCAA antitrust exemptions and create new rules surrounding NIL, transfers and revenue sharing, among others.
The June 2025 House settlement paved the way for up to $20.5 million in revenue sharing payments to be disbursed to schools from the NCAA. The PCSA would raise that figure to nearly $50 million.
The bill has drawn support from prominent sports figures and leagues, including former Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, NCAA president Charlie Baker, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, all four major American sports leagues and more.
Izzo took five minutes responding to questions about the bill that would create greater consistency in the NCAA. Izzo, a strong opponent of frequent transfers in college athletics, said he wants to see Congress pass the bill, which would limit players to transferring once between four-year institutions without sitting out a season.
“It's ridiculous what we've done,” Izzo said. “And do not blame the players; blame the coaches, the administrators, the NCAA, the lawyers, the adults, the judges. Blame the adults in the room, not the players.”
The PCSA passed in the Senate 77-22 on Monday. Both Michigan senators, Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, voted yes on the bill.
The House of Representatives won't vote on the bill until Nov. 3, when the body reconvenes from recess. If passed, it will then head to President Trump’s desk, who is a vocal supporter of the PCSA.
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