President Donald Trump was closely monitoring the Protect College Sports Act as it cleared its first major Senate hurdle, according to one of the bill’s Republican co-sponsors.

Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri said he called Trump on Tuesday night once it became clear supporters had enough votes to advance the legislation.

“He was thrilled,” Schmitt told Front Office Sports. “He’s not some phony politician with the ‘sports ball’ stuff. … This is important to him.”

The comments offered another indication that the administration has made passage of the college sports overhaul a priority rather than merely endorsing it from a distance.

The bipartisan legislation, introduced in May by Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Maria Cantwell of Washington, advanced through a 74-24 vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed. It needed 60 votes to clear that procedural hurdle.

The bill would establish a federal right for college athletes to earn name, image and likeness compensation, adopt the revenue-sharing cap negotiated in the House settlement and create an additional player-retention fund.

It also would establish five-year eligibility limits, restrict unrestricted transfers and provide scholarship, medical and safety protections.

Trump and White House officials were previously involved in negotiations that helped secure support from the SEC and Big Ten after the conferences expressed concerns about compensation and realignment provisions.

The measure still faces organized opposition from the NAACP, labor groups and some athlete advocates, who argue that players were insufficiently represented during negotiations and should receive collective-bargaining rights.

Tuesday’s vote did not pass the legislation. The bill must clear additional Senate votes and then pass the House before reaching Trump’s desk.

Schmitt’s account, however, made the president’s position clear as Congress considers a national framework for NIL, transfers and athlete protections.

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