• Loading stock data...
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

Trump Signs Executive Order on College Sports Pay

The executive order marks the Trump White House’s first foray into legislating college sports compensation.

President Donald Trump speaks during the American 250 kickoff event on July 3, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrouds.
Imagn Images

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced he signed an executive order related to governing the name, image, and likeness (NIL) landscape, as well as Olympic and women’s sports. There was no public signing of the order; the White House released a fact sheet, “President Donald J. Trump Saves College Sports,” detailing the order’s main points.

Front Office Sports reported previously that Trump was actively working on an executive order.

“President Trump recognizes the critical role of college sports in fostering leadership, education, and community pride, the need to address urgent threats to its future, including endless litigation seeking to eliminate the basic rules of college sports, escalating private-donor pay-for-play payments in football and basketball that divert resources from other sports and reduce competitive balance, and the commonsense reality that college sports are different than professional sports,” the fact sheet read.

The order prohibits “third-party, pay-for-play payments,” though it specifies that other “legitimate, fair-market-value compensation that a third party provides” is still allowed. The language bolsters initial guidance from the College Sports Commission, which said NIL collectives wouldn’t be approved under the NIL Go clearinghouse. That guidance has been challenged, and a basic agreement was reached to treat collectives like normal businesses, FOS reported earlier this week.

The order also addresses revenue-sharing, saying payments from schools to players “should be implemented in a manner that preserves or expands scholarships and collegiate athletic opportunities in women’s and non-revenue sports.” (Early in the Trump Administration, however, the Department of Education reversed guidance that said it would consider revenue-sharing payments subject to Title IX.)

Finally, it attempts to preserve Olympic sports by directing schools with athletic department budgets of a certain size to maintain or increase their Olympic sports opportunities and scholarships.

Beyond that, the order doesn’t take concrete action. It directs the Secretary of Labor and National Labor Relations Board to “clarify the status of student-athletes,” though it does not expressly say they should be classified as amateurs, rather than employees. It asks the Attorney General and FTC to “take appropriate actions to protect student-athletes’ rights and safeguard the long-term stability of college athletics from endless, debilitating antitrust and other legal challenges.” 

Sources have previously suggested that an executive order likely wouldn’t have the legal authority to offer the NCAA the protections it is currently seeking through congressional action, including antitrust protections against lawsuits challenging athlete pay rules and a stipulation preventing college athletes from being classified as employees. But Trump’s order does at least attempt to satisfy some of these demands. 

The executive order marks the Trump White House’s first foray into legislating college sports compensation, but they aren’t the only ones in Washington interested in this issue. Since 2019, the NCAA and power conferences have spent millions lobbying Congress to pass a law that would halt the athletes’ rights movement by providing federal standards for NIL. They’ve also sought legislation that would allow the NCAA to set its own compensation, eligibility, and transfer rules without fear of more lawsuits, and deem athletes as amateurs. Both the House and Senate have held hearings and lawmakers have introduced bills, but none have gone far enough for a vote.

Since the House v. NCAA settlement was approved in June, those efforts appear to have picked up steam. The SCORE Act, an NCAA and power-conference-endorsed bill that would codify the House settlement terms and give the NCAA the aforementioned protections, passed a subcommittee markup in the House on July 15. It could be the first bill of its kind to reach the House floor for a vote.

Trump’s executive order isn’t expected to conflict with congressional action, which is led by House Republicans (though the SCORE Act does have two Democratic co-sponsors). “The SCORE Act … will complement the President’s executive order, and we look forward to working with all of our colleagues in Congress to build a stronger and more durable college sports environment,” Rep. Brett Guthrie (R., Ky.), Rep. Tim Walberg (R., Mich.), and Congressman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), said in a joint statement.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Arch Manning

NIL Go Says It Has Cleared $80 Million in NIL Deals So..

NIL collectives, however, say the majority of their deals are in limbo.
Megan Romano

The $800 Million Enhanced Games Lawsuit Could Have Legs

Antitrust experts say the case could have some merit.
Aug 30, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Langston Patterson (10) looks over the defense against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers during the first half at FirstBank Stadium.

Latest Class Action Eligibility Lawsuit Challenges NCAA’s ‘Redshirt’ Rule

It’s the latest lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s core eligibility requirements.
opinion

Bill and Jordon’s Excellent Adventure Already Unraveling

Belichick’s debut was a humiliation rather than a coronation.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Workers set up the stages for the “Fox Big Noon Kickoff” sports show live telecast before Saturday’s Iowa State and Iowa football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
exclusive

Big 12 Embraces Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports

The conference held a call with Portnoy to discuss coverage and collaboration.
Aug 30, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) drops back to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half at Ohio Stadium.
September 2, 2025

On This Year’s CFB Rosters, Even Backup QBs Make Six Figures

The going rate for backup quarterbacks is in the mid-six-figures.
The cast of ESPN College GameDay begins their show prior to the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025. The show is the final one for Lee Corso.
September 2, 2025

OSU Sophomore Wins $250K in McAfee ‘GameDay’ Kicking Contest

The former NFL punter started offering prize money for kicks in 2023.
Sponsored

Trailblazer Cal Calamia Is Racing for ‘Advocacy, Storytelling, and Performance’

The marathoner wants excellence—not just inclusion—to be the goal for non-binary athletes.
Mike Gundy
September 2, 2025

OSU’s Gundy, Oregon’s Lanning Trade Barbs Over Alleged $30 Million Gap

Lanning ripped Gundy’s “excuse” and said “we spend to win.”
FSU
September 2, 2025

ACC Hits Florida State With First $50K Storming Fine Under New Rule

The ACC announced a new fine system in July.
September 2, 2025

Less Belichick Hype Could Mean Bad News for CFB Stakeholders

UNC had never begun a football season with so much hype.
September 1, 2025

Bill Belichick’s Star-Studded UNC Coaching Debut Turns Ugly

Michael Jordan highlighted a long list of celebrities in attendance.