Trending Now - Trump Advocates for Urgent Reforms in College Sports System

WHO:

President Donald Trump

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

NCAA President Charlie Baker

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey

Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer

House Speaker Mike Johnson

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken (mentioned)

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland

Texas Tech regent Cody Campbell

Other attendees included various lawmakers, conference commissioners, university presidents, and athletic directors.

President Donald Trump

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

NCAA President Charlie Baker

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey

Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer

House Speaker Mike Johnson

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland

Texas Tech regent Cody Campbell

Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)

Athletic directors and conference commissioners from various universities

No current college athletes were present

WHAT:

Trump announced plans to write an "all-encompassing" executive order within one week to address issues in college sports.

The SCORE Act was discussed as a potential legislative solution, which would provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption.

Louisville’s athletic department reported a $12.5 million deficit.

Trump stated, “The whole educational system is going to go out of business because of this.”

Trump mentioned that the NCAA will pay close to $2.8 billion in back damages over the next 10 years to college athletes who competed from 2016 to 2025.

Trump hosted a roundtable titled "Saving College Sports" on March 6, 2026, at the White House.

Trump announced plans to write an "all-encompassing" executive order within one week to address issues in college sports.

The SCORE Act was discussed, which aims to provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption and preempt state laws regarding NIL (name, image, likeness).

Trump stated, “The whole educational system is going to go out of business because of this,” regarding the current state of college sports.

Louisville’s athletic department reported a $12.5 million deficit.

Trump criticized the "horrible" court settlement that led to the current NIL system, which he claimed has caused financial distress in college athletics.

Trump expressed a desire to return to a scholarship-only model for college athletes, stating, “I thought the system of scholarships was great.”

WHERE:

The roundtable took place in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

The roundtable occurred on March 6, 2026.

Trump indicated he would issue the executive order within one week of March 6, 2026.

The roundtable occurred on March 6, 2026.

Trump plans to issue the executive order within one week of the roundtable.

The Supreme Court ruling in NCAA vs. Alston occurred in 2021.

WHY:

The meeting aimed to address the financial crisis in college sports due to the new NIL payment system and the economic pressures it has created.

Trump expressed concern that the current system is ruining families and the future of college athletics.

The meeting aimed to address the financial crisis in college sports exacerbated by NIL payments and the need for federal legislation to restore order.

Trump and attendees expressed concerns that without intervention, college sports and the broader educational system could face significant financial challenges.

HOW:

Trump plans to draft an executive order based on discussions from the roundtable, which he expects will lead to a lawsuit.

The SCORE Act aims to create a national framework for NIL payments and provide antitrust protections to the NCAA.

Trump indicated that the executive order would be based on discussions from the roundtable and would likely lead to legal challenges.

The SCORE Act is intended to provide a framework for regulating NIL payments and protecting college sports from financial collapse.

Senators Schmitt and Cantwell plan to introduce a new bill to address college sports' revenue issues, including the option for conferences to pool their media rights, which is currently restricted by the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act.

(UPDATED March 8, 2026 01:21 UTC)

On March 6, 2026, President Trump held a roundtable discussion in the East Room of the White House, focusing on the financial crisis in college sports, which has been exacerbated by the new NIL payment system. Attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, NCAA President Charlie Baker, and several prominent figures from the sports world, such as former coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. During the meeting, Trump announced plans to draft an "all-encompassing" executive order within a week to tackle these issues, while also discussing the SCORE Act as a potential legislative solution to provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption. He highlighted that the NCAA is expected to pay nearly $2.8 billion in back damages to college athletes who competed from 2016 to 2025, and expressed concerns that the current system is damaging families and the future of college athletics. Louisville's athletic department reported a significant $12.5 million deficit, underscoring the urgent need for reform in the college sports landscape.

Yesterday, President Trump hosted a roundtable titled "Saving College Sports" in the East Room of the White House, where he announced plans to issue an executive order within a week to tackle the financial crisis in college athletics. During the discussion, Trump criticized the current NIL system and expressed a desire to revert to a scholarship-only model for college athletes, while also addressing the SCORE Act, which aims to provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption. Attendees, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, voiced concerns that without federal intervention, both college sports and the educational system could face significant financial challenges.