Trump’s “Save College Sports” Executive Order Draws Attention

With President Donald Trump taking steps to influence collegiate athletics, his recent “Save College Sports” executive order has sparked significant discussion, particularly from seasoned sports agent Lee Steinberg.

Steinberg noted, “They were meeting the need for recruiting and transfer portals to be out of control.” His comments reflect concerns around the chaotic nature of college sports recruitment processes.

The executive order aims to impose regulations surrounding university sports, particularly regarding financial interactions with college athletes. It also seeks to protect women’s sports resources, a timely move given that athletes have greater financial opportunities than ever before.

A recent Supreme Court ruling between the House and the NCAA has paved the way for universities to pay athletes directly through revenue sharing for the first time. Before this, students could earn income through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, but Trump’s order complicates this by limiting third-party payments based on specific schools.

“There were some positive factors to that in that he was trying to regulate unregulated areas,” Steinberg acknowledged. There’s a belief that reducing the involvement of third parties that contribute funds to recruit targets is vital for sustaining recruitment efforts. “We’ll still be able to bring deals to players, and we need to match the fair market value,” he added.

Moreover, Steinberg commended the intent to safeguard resources for other sports, beyond just football and men’s basketball. He pointed out that there’s a necessary balance based on the athletic department’s revenue which should ensure scholarships remain intact across all sports.

“If the goal is to provide students with educational opportunities, playing sports should be part of that – it can’t just be focused on college football or basketball,” Steinberg remarked, emphasizing a broader responsibility for protecting all sports.

This executive order is set for a general purpose and will undergo a 30-day review period before being fully implemented in Trump’s administration.

Steinberg also expressed that there needs to be clear definitions of what third-party contributions are acceptable to effectively manage outside payments, while still allowing beneficial support from boosters to university sports programs.

“It requires you to have guidelines regarding what external organizations can do in terms of providing funds to the recruitment process while also setting metrics based on player branding and marketing,” he explained. On that note, he has called for the introduction of salary caps in college football and men’s basketball as a part of future reforms.