A White House roundtable on the future of college athletics brought together prominent coaches, administrators and political figures this week, but the meeting produced few concrete solutions for the rapidly evolving landscape of college sports.
President Donald Trump convened the roughly two-hour discussion in Washington as universities, athletic conferences, and lawmakers continue to grapple with the effects of name, image, and likeness payments, player transfers, and mounting legal challenges that have reshaped college athletics in recent years.
Participants included several well-known figures in college sports and administration, though college athletes themselves were notably absent from the meeting.
During the event, Trump indicated he plans to issue a second executive order aimed at addressing the turmoil surrounding college athletics. He suggested the order would attempt to restore elements of the previous system governing college sports while acknowledging the possibility that such an action might face legal challenges.
The meeting reflected the broad uncertainty facing universities and athletic organizations as they try to navigate a system that has changed dramatically in the past five years. Court rulings and state laws have expanded athletes’ ability to earn money through endorsement deals and other opportunities tied to their name, image and likeness, while new rules have also increased the frequency of player transfers between schools.
Some participants argued that the current environment has created instability for programs and conferences, particularly as schools compete financially for top talent.
A central issue raised during the discussion was whether colleges should receive some form of federal antitrust protection that would allow them to collectively set rules governing athlete compensation and player movement. Supporters of the idea say such protection could help stabilize the system and allow schools to establish clearer guidelines.
Critics, however, argue that an antitrust exemption could give universities disproportionate power over athletes and limit the freedoms that recent court rulings have granted players.
Among the proposals discussed was a potential restriction on player transfers, with some conference leaders favoring a return to a system allowing only one transfer without penalty. Others raised concerns about the influence of outside fundraising groups known as collectives, which help facilitate compensation opportunities for athletes.
Financial issues also loomed large over the meeting. Television networks and media contracts continue to pour billions of dollars into college sports, particularly football and men’s basketball, even as administrators warn that the current structure is becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
Another idea raised during the event involved revisiting aspects of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which could allow conferences to pool media rights in ways supporters believe might help redistribute revenue across schools.
Throughout the meeting, participants debated possible reforms but struggled to reach a consensus on how to move forward.
Source: USA Today