Rep. Steube and Sen. Tuberville Introduce Student Athlete Act of 2026

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced the Student Athlete Act of 2026, legislation to establish uniform eligibility standards for college athletics and restore the educational mission of college sports.

"College athletics should be about earning a degree and competing on the field, not navigating a confusing patchwork of eligibility rules," said Rep. Greg Steube. "The current system is unsustainable. High school athletes are losing opportunities to older transfers, and student-athletes are being encouraged to pursue short-term deals rather than focusing on their education. The Student Athlete Act puts the focus back where it belongs: in the classroom and in competition."

"College athletics used to be about education, now it's sadly all about making money," said Sen. Tuberville. "We can't be having 25-year-old 'students' who graduated three years ago still competing in the NCAA. With my bill, a student-athlete gets five years to get their education, compete, and then move on. We also have to make sure students are getting a good education, which won't happen if they are transferring every year. I'm all for student-athletes making money, but we have to create some national guidelines as the current system is broken. I'm thankful for Rep. Steube's support on this bill and look forward to getting it across the finish line in both the House and the Senate."

The Student Athlete Act would establish a uniform eligibility standard providing student-athletes with five consecutive years of eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics and create guardrails around the transfer portal. Under the legislation, student-athletes would be permitted one transfer without penalty. Any subsequent transfer would require the athlete to sit out a season.

The legislation also protects scholarship commitments by requiring institutions to honor grant-in-aid agreements, establishes a uniform national framework for eligibility and transfer rules, and preempts conflicting state laws that have created a patchwork of standards across college athletics.

Background: College athletics has undergone significant changes in recent years as courts have repeatedly challenged NCAA eligibility rules and athletes have increasingly relied on waivers and litigation to extend their playing careers. As well, the transfer portal has transformed recruiting and roster management, with many athletes transferring multiple times during their collegiate careers.

These developments have created uncertainty for student-athletes, coaches, and institutions while reducing opportunities for incoming high school recruits. In response, the NCAA recently proposed a "5-for-5" eligibility framework that would allow student-athletes to compete for five seasons over five years and create greater consistency across college sports.

Read the bill text here.