NCAA president Charlie Baker on Protect College Sports Act: 'Support this bill now'

With Congress soon to begin its August recess, the finalization of the Protect College Sports Act negotiations between lawmakers and college sports leaders remains at a standstill on Capitol Hill, leaving the bill's path to a Senate floor vote uncertain.

>The impasse comes as leaders from the Power Four conferences — the Big Ten, the SEC, the ACC and the Big 12 — meet Thursday with university presidents to review the latest revisions to the bill made by lawmakers. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).

>Late Thursday afternoon, NCAA president Charlie Baker released a statement saying that while no bill is "perfect," he "implores college sports leaders and Senators to support this bill now." Baker, of course, is hinting at the ticking clock on getting the bill passed this session.

class="related-link">HOLDOUT: Why the Big Ten is stopping Congress' college sports fix

>"After speaking with conference leaders and university presidents in recent days, one thing is clear: there is overwhelming consensus that targeted intervention from Congress is necessary. I am grateful to Senators Cruz and Cantwell for making meaningful changes to strengthen this bill. This is the legislation we need now," Baker said in a statement.

>Baker continued to note that the bill will provide student-athletes with "unprecedented academic, health, and wellness benefits" while reining in "out-of-control agents, and stabilize transfer, eligibility, and revenue-sharing rules."

>"While no bill is perfect, I implore college sports leaders and Senators to support this bill now. It is our best chance to deliver the benefits and level playing field student-athletes deserve while providing the protections institutions need to sustain college athletics long-term," Baker continued in his statement.

>A committee aide told John Brice of USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday that while "major concessions" developed in deliberations on the language of the bill earlier in the week, the Big Ten and SEC "continuing to move the goal post" on has a floor vote in doubt before Congress leaves session on Friday, August 7.

>The Big Ten and SEC specifically want autonomy over their respective broadcast media rights and modifications to inducements/payments to high school student-athletes, particularly football and basketball, as well as the freedom for potential expansion, in part, in their demands to support the Protect Act.

>Yahoo Sports reported Thursday that the Big Ten did not cast a vote after conference presidents and athletic directors reviewed the revised Protect College Sports Act earlier in the day. The other three Power Four conferences were scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. ET, according to Yahoo!, to review the revised bill.

>Should there not be a vote on the bill before Aug. 7, the next legislative session for the Senate is not scheduled until Monday, September 14.

>USA TODAY's John Brice contributed to this article.

>The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA president Charlie Baker on Protect College Sports Act: 'Support this bill now'