Protect America's Game Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
- Committees
- Judiciary Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 24, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to preserve the unique viewership and national focus on the Army-Navy football game by legally protecting its broadcast window from competition with other major college football contests.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to prevent other major college football games from being broadcast simultaneously with the annual Army-Navy game. It achieves this by making the existing antitrust exemption for college sports broadcasting agreements conditional on those agreements not permitting any Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) postseason game to be telecast during a protected window around the Army-Navy game.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill is essential to protect a cherished national tradition, ensuring the Army-Navy game receives undivided attention and viewership. They contend it honors the service academies and their athletes by preserving the game's cultural significance and broadcast value, preventing it from being overshadowed by other high-profile college football events.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that this bill represents an unnecessary federal intervention into the free market for sports broadcasting rights, potentially limiting consumer choice and creating scheduling difficulties for other college football events. They could contend it disrupts established broadcast contracts and revenue streams for other conferences and institutions, without clear evidence of significant harm to the Army-Navy game's viewership.
The bill is very short and clearly written, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its provisions and implications quickly.
Section 2, adding new Section 7 to 15 U.S.C. 1291 et seq.
Protection of Army-Navy Game Broadcast Window
This provision amends the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to ensure that the antitrust exemption granted to college sports organizations for jointly selling broadcast rights does not apply if their agreements allow other Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) postseason games to be telecast during the 'protected Army-Navy Game broadcast window.' This window is defined as starting one hour before scheduled kickoff and ending 30 minutes after the official conclusion of the telecast of the annual Army-Navy game, which occurs on the second Saturday in December.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is crucial for preserving the unique status and tradition of the Army-Navy game, ensuring it stands alone as a national event without competition from other major college football broadcasts. This honors the service academies and their athletes, maximizing viewership and national attention for this significant contest.
Critics contend
Critics might contend that this provision creates an undue restriction on the scheduling flexibility of college football, potentially forcing other significant postseason games into less optimal broadcast slots. They may argue it's an overreach of federal power into sports scheduling and could disrupt existing broadcast contracts and revenue streams for other conferences and institutions.
Tradeoffs
The bill balances the desire to protect a specific, culturally significant sporting event (the Army-Navy game) with the potential for restricting the scheduling and broadcast freedom of other major college football games and their associated economic interests. It prioritizes the tradition and singular focus on the Army-Navy game over market-driven scheduling flexibility for the broader college football landscape.