In a move that could dramatically reshape the landscape of college sports, former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order aimed at reforming Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies in collegiate athletics. Sources confirm that the decision comes after a private meeting at Mar-a-Lago last week with two powerful figures in the college football world: former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, also a former SEC coach himself.
Though the precise language of the executive order has yet to be finalized, insiders close to the matter suggest that the policy will seek to impose national NIL guidelines, restrict tampering in the transfer portal, and require greater transparency in athlete compensation deals.
This unexpected alliance between Trump, Saban, and Tuberville may soon bring long-awaited federal involvement into what has become a chaotic and often controversial NIL era.
Since the NCAA relaxed its rules to allow student-athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness in July 2021, the collegiate sports landscape has undergone a seismic shift. Athletes are now signing million-dollar endorsement deals, collectives are operating as quasi-recruiting arms, and the transfer portal has become a revolving door.
Despite the freedoms these changes brought, many coaches and administrators have expressed concerns that NIL has morphed into an unregulated arms race.
Trump, who has long sought to re-engage with cultural and political issues at the intersection of sports and policy, now appears poised to step into the vacuum. His discussions with Saban and Tuberville reportedly focused on restoring what they described as “balance” and “integrity” to college athletics.
“President Trump believes student-athletes should be compensated fairly, but he also knows the current system is out of control and unfair to many schools and players,” one senior advisor said. “He’s ready to act.”
Though retired from coaching, Nick Saban remains one of the most respected voices in college football. His presence in the meeting was no coincidence. During his final seasons at Alabama, Saban was outspoken about the need for uniform NIL rules and guardrails to prevent inducements disguised as legitimate endorsement deals.
According to sources briefed on the meeting, Saban laid out several specific grievances and policy recommendations to Trump. These included:
- Creating a national NIL registry to track deals
- Prohibiting pay-for-play schemes tied to recruiting or transfers
- Implementing a “dead period” on NIL talks during the recruiting process
- Requiring all NIL deals to go through certified third-party agents
“Coach Saban brought the voice of hundreds of college coaches into that room,” said one source with knowledge of the discussions. “He warned that the lack of structure is pushing schools and athletes into dangerous territory. Trump was engaged and took notes throughout.”
Saban, who built a dynasty at Alabama and mentored countless players into the NFL, has not shied away from confronting controversial topics. His previous criticisms of collectives and NIL tampering were echoed this week in private and may now become cornerstones of the executive order.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), a former Auburn head coach and one of the few lawmakers with firsthand coaching experience at the Division I level, has been a central player in legislative discussions around NIL.
Tuberville previously collaborated with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) on a bipartisan draft bill to create a national NIL standard, though efforts have since stalled in Congress. Frustrated by gridlock, Tuberville reportedly urged Trump to bypass legislative hurdles and act through executive power.
“Tommy Tuberville knows that waiting on Congress to figure this out could take years,” said a GOP aide familiar with the meeting. “He told Trump, ‘If you want to lead on this and bring sanity back to college sports, now’s the time.’ And Trump listened.”
While critics may challenge the legality of the executive order—arguing it steps into NCAA jurisdiction or states’ rights—supporters believe Trump can use federal oversight powers, particularly over interstate commerce, to justify uniform NIL regulations.
Although the full text of the order has yet to be released, early outlines suggest several sweeping proposals:
- National NIL Framework: Establishing a unified system to regulate NIL activity across all NCAA divisions, creating consistency in disclosures, contract terms, and allowable compensation.
- Collective Accountability: Requiring booster-led collectives to register with a federal oversight body and disclose payments, sponsors, and recruiting contacts.
- Tampering Penalties: Instituting federal penalties or NCAA mandates for tampering with athletes in the transfer portal, especially before official transfer declarations.
- Athlete Education: Mandating financial literacy and contract education for all student-athletes receiving NIL compensation above a certain threshold.
- Recruiting Oversight: Limiting NIL discussions during official visits or contact periods, ensuring that offers are not used as recruitment lures in violation of fair play rules.
Legal analysts note that while the executive order may face challenges in court, it could set a policy precedent and pressure the NCAA to adopt similar reforms or encourage faster congressional action.
Trump’s engagement with NIL is not merely policy—it’s politics. With the 2024 election behind him and his eyes on maintaining influence, Trump sees NIL as a populist issue that resonates with conservative voters, athletes’ families, and traditionalists who believe college sports have lost their soul.
“It’s a perfect issue for Trump,” said a former White House staffer. “He gets to look like he’s protecting the game, defending kids from exploitation, and pushing back against chaos. And working with names like Saban and Tuberville? That’s a Southern trifecta.”
At the same time, the NCAA is likely to resist ceding control to the federal government. In recent months, NCAA President Charlie Baker has made efforts to push Congress for legislation rather than rely on executive action.
“We need bipartisan solutions, not unilateral ones,” Baker said in February. “Our athletes deserve stability, not confusion.”
Yet the NCAA has failed to deliver a coherent NIL strategy, and public frustration is mounting. Trump’s move, though unconventional, could finally prompt the kind of systemic overhaul stakeholders across the college sports world have demanded.
News of Trump’s expected executive order has already sent ripples through the collegiate landscape.
Some Power Five coaches privately expressed support, hoping that federal involvement will level the playing field and protect student-athletes from unscrupulous agents or false promises.
“I’m not a Trump guy, but if he can bring order to this, I’m all for it,” one Big Ten coach told ESPN.
Athlete advocates, however, are wary. They fear that increased regulation could stifle opportunities or give more control back to institutions that historically limited player earnings.
“NIL was supposed to be about empowerment, not surveillance,” said Ramogi Huma, founder of the National College Players Association. “We should be very cautious about any executive action that might roll back rights.”
Still, momentum appears to be on Trump’s side. The order could be announced within weeks, possibly before major summer recruiting events, signaling a sharp new era in the relationship between college sports and the federal government.
Should Trump sign the executive order as expected, legal challenges are almost certain to follow. State-level NIL laws, collective freedoms, and NCAA policies could all be thrown into a complex web of lawsuits and jurisdictional debates.
Nevertheless, the symbolism of the move—bringing together Trump, Saban, and Tuberville—sends a powerful message: the NIL era has grown too unruly to be left alone.
For better or worse, the federal government is now officially on the playing field.
The college sports world may be on the verge of a generational shift, not brought about by athletic competition but by political power. With the NIL gold rush showing no signs of slowing down, Trump’s executive order could either be the first step toward much-needed reform—or ignite a firestorm of resistance from those who see it as federal overreach.
