Game Over for the Protect College Sports Act?

11.06.26 11.06.26

Welcome back to the Spotlight! This past Tuesday, millions of Americans headed to the polls to cast their votes in the mid-term elections. Regardless of which party voters are affiliated with and whether their preferred candidates won their respective elections, I am confident in saying that we are all united by our relief of not having to be hit over the head with political TV commercials, mailings or text messages (seriously, who gave you my number?). In that regard, we are all winners. Those hoping that Congress would pass the Protect College Sports Act into law, on the other hand, may not emerge victorious. Indeed, with many incumbents in the House of Representatives having lost their elections and being more inclined to lick their wounds and get their holiday vacation started sooner, it seems extremely unrealistic that members of Congress would convene in Washington DC in the two month “lame duck” session between the elections and when the new Congress is sworn-in come January–at which point, the legislative process would have to start from the quacking beginning. The Senate’s approved bill from a few weeks ago? Gone like water off a duck’s back. So where do we go from here? As has been the case in college sports for some time now, uncertainty is the only thing that is certain.

The University of Missouri’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will be sporting a jersey patch from their sponsor, World Wide Technology. I guess you could say that Missouri loves the company.
Nike inks an NIL deal with University of Kentucky’s rising star wide receiver Kenny Darby. Perhaps Nike will step out of the sportswear and apparel box and make him a seersucker fit for the Kentucky Darby.
The son of former Disney CEO and newly-minted owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Bob Iger gets tapped as a play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers’ G-League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Lakers. If I were a cynic, I would call out this move as nepotism. In a related story, I am a cynic.
After bankrupt golf league LIV Golf’s $300 million rescue plan was abandoned by investment firm, BC Partners, it looks as if the league can no longer said to be LIVing. But shed no tears–as the saying goes, “’tis better to have LIV’d and lost…”

Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships and Investments

Livvy Dunne on How NIL Changed Her Life and Her Move Into Acting
November 5, 2026 via WWD

Betty Wold Johnson Foundation Commits Additional $500,000 to Expand Girls Flag Football Opportunities
November 5, 2026 via PR Newswire

How Athletes Are Becoming the Media Companies of Tomorrow
November 5, 2026 via AdWeek

LIV Golf Is Shutting Down, Lawyers Confirm in Bankruptcy Hearing
November 5, 2026 via Front Office Sports

Caitlin Clark Becomes First-Ever Brand Partner for Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker
November 4, 2026 via Fox

Kentucky WR Kenny Darby Inks NIL Deal with Nike
November 3, 2026 via On3

Dodgers Owner Reportedly Seeking $3 Billion for Cadillac F1 Stake Sale
November 3, 2026 via Athlon Sports

Missouri Inks Jersey Patch Deal with World Wide Technology for Men’s, Women’s Basketball
November 2, 2026 via On3

Mark Walter Explores Cadillac F1 Team Stake Sale at $3B Valuation
November 2, 2026 via Sportico

NFL Forced Saquon Barkley to Sell Polymarket Stake, Treating Prediction Markets as Sportsbooks
November 2, 2026 via ReadWrite

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