the drop. · Oct 27, 2026

Emails reveal conservative donor network behind Protect College Sports Act lobbying push

Emails obtained by Front Office Sports through public records requests show that Saving College Sports, an advocacy group founded by Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell, ran a coordinated summer lobbying campaign to pass the Protect College Sports Act in the Senate. The effort drew in major conservative political figures, including Club for Growth president David McIntosh and a DraftKings executive, none of whose involvement had previously been reported. Dallas real estate executive Dary Stone managed outreach to roughly 150 recipients that included conference commissioners, university leaders, and sitting senators, while also providing lobbying templates and campaign updates. The Senate ultimately passed the bill 77–22 on September 28, and it now awaits a House vote.

SCS has not publicly disclosed its donor list because it is legally exempt from disclosure requirements.

From Front Office Sports

Why it matters

For service providers: The involvement of a DraftKings executive in shaping college sports legislation raises questions about conflicts of interest between sports betting platforms and campus governance.

For brands: Brands and sponsors operating in the college NIL space face a potentially more stable but also more restricted regulatory environment if the bill becomes law.

For coaches: Uniform national eligibility and transfer rules would replace the current patchwork framework that coaches navigate when recruiting and managing rosters.

For media: The report documents that ESPN and Fox Sports executives participated in legislative discussions and that ESPN aired on-air advocacy for the bill, raising editorial independence questions.

For athletes: The bill would set nationwide rules on compensation, eligibility, and transfers, directly shaping what college athletes can earn and how freely they can move between schools.

For collectives: Federal antitrust protections for the NCAA and conferences could limit the legal leverage that collectives and athletes currently hold, according to the report.

Read the full story at Front Office Sports

Sources

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