# Ted Cruz Wants It. Matthew McConaughey Wants It. It’s Downright Evil.

> Ted Cruz and Matthew McConaughey push NCAA bill to cap college football player pay at $50m.
- Title: Ted Cruz Wants It. Matthew McConaughey Wants It. It’s…
- Summary: Ted Cruz and Matthew McConaughey push NCAA bill to cap college football player pay at $50m. The Protect College Sports Act aims to cap college football…
- Keywords: ted cruz, matthew mcconaughey, ncaa, protect college sports act, college football, player pay, university sports, seahawks, nfl, Ted, Cruz, Wants
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/culture/2026/10/college-football-sports-games-republicans-democrats.html?via=rss
- Author: Alex Kirshner
- Published: 2026-10-02T12:59:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ted cruz, matthew mcconaughey, ncaa, protect college sports act, college football, player pay, university sports, seahawks, nfl
## Bill passes Senate
The Protect College Sports Act passed the Senate with 77 votes.
## Bill aims to cap player pay
The bill increases school athlete pay from $20 million to up to $50 million.
## Player transfer rules change
Athletes lose ability to transfer more than once without sitting out a season.
## Antitrust exemption sought
The bill grants NCAA antitrust exemption to enforce player payment rules.
## Sustainability pitch
The bill claims to restore order and protect women’s sports funding.
## Reality of spending
Schools spend $220 million on football coach buyouts annually.
## Racism in college sports
Minority groups make up 70% of football players but 77% of coaches are white.
## Matthew McConaughey supports bill
Matthew McConaughey voices a TV spot for the bill.
## Nick Saban endorses bill
Nick Saban promotes the bill as national spokesman.
## Bill ignores union concerns
The bill avoids employee protections for athletes.
## Bill fails to address racism
The bill perpetuates racial wealth disparities in college sports.
## Bill’s impact on coaches
The bill targets coach salaries but fails to limit them.
## Bill’s consequences
The bill preserves current power structures for athletic directors.
## Key takeaway

The Protect College Sports Act aims to cap college football player payments at $50 million to suppress wages, but critics argue it ignores systemic racism and benefits athletic directors.