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The landscape of university sports is changing fast, especially with names, images, and portraits involved, and the government is thinking about how to manage it.
After a meeting on Thursday with Alabama’s head coach, Nick Saban, President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating an executive order to regulate NIL transactions in collegiate athletics.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Saban expressed to Trump that the surge of money has been detrimental to college sports. He isn’t advocating for a complete halt to compensation, but rather seeks “reform.”
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President Donald Trump addresses University of Alabama alumni at Coleman Coliseum, then shakes hands with renowned football coach Nick Saban. (Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News)
Last year on Fox News, Saban called on Congress to step in to create a more balanced system:
“It’s supposed to be available for all players, but it’s really become a situation where the biggest financial backers can pay the most, which is definitely not a level playing field.”
Saban believes that the NCAA “can handle” NIL issues, but feels that national regulations need to be established.
President Donald Trump addresses alumni in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025. (Anna Money Maker/Getty Images)
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“Currently, we only have state laws, and they vary by state, which protect the NCAA from lawsuits by setting guidelines for college athletics moving forward. But the lawsuits have brought us here,” Saban pointed out. “We need some safeguards from legal action, though I’m unsure if that would fall under antitrust regulations.”
“I’m not entirely sure what suggestions to make, but I know we need some federal standards and guidelines to enforce established rules.”
The NCAA recently approved a rule that will permit universities to pay athletes due to an anticipated billion-dollar settlement from a lawsuit coming this summer.
This week, R-Ala. Senator Tommy Tuberville stated, “If there’s anyone who can help regulate this, it’s President Trump.”
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump chats with Republican Senator Katie Britt at a football game between Alabama and Georgia in Tuscaloosa. (Gary Cosby Jr./Imagn Images)
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Saban introduced Trump during a recent alumni gathering, where Trump praised Alabama’s athletic program, calling it a breeding ground for legends.
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