Trump Calls for Return to Old NCAA Rules Despite Supreme Court Ruling on Athlete Pay
President Donald Trump said Friday that he plans to issue a new executive order aimed at reversing major changes in college athletics that allow student-athletes to earn money from their name, image and likeness (NIL).
Speaking during a nearly two-hour roundtable discussion at the White House with more than 50 sports executives, business leaders and lawmakers, Trump said he wants college sports to return to the system that existed before courts opened the door to athlete compensation.
“I’d like to go exactly back to what we had and ram it through a court,” Trump told attendees during the event, which focused on the future of college athletics.
Trump criticized several court rulings that have allowed athletes to receive compensation, including the landmark NCAA v. Alston decision. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in that case that certain NCAA restrictions violated antitrust law, a decision widely seen as paving the way for today’s NIL system.
According to Trump, the new executive order will be more comprehensive than previous actions and could trigger legal challenges designed to test whether courts might allow tighter restrictions on athlete compensation.
At the same time, the president urged lawmakers to continue negotiating federal legislation to regulate college athletics, though he expressed skepticism that Congress would be able to reach a deal.
College sports leaders attending the meeting described the industry as facing growing financial and legal instability. Pete Bevacqua warned that football spending has become a “runaway financial train” that is consuming resources previously used to support Olympic and women’s sports.
Similarly, Jim Phillips said constant litigation has made it difficult for conferences and the NCAA to enforce rules.
The event did not include current college athletes, which drew criticism from some lawmakers. Representative Lori Trahan argued that athletes should have a role in shaping policies that affect their compensation and rights.
While the White House meeting focused on executive action, separate negotiations in Congress may shape the future of college sports. Senators Maria Cantwell and Eric Schmitt recently reached a bipartisan agreement on legislation that would amend the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to allow college conferences to combine and sell media rights.
Supporters say the measure could create new revenue streams and help stabilize the rapidly changing college sports landscape. However, broader legislation governing athlete compensation and NCAA authority remains stalled after years of debate in Congress.
College leaders attending the White House meeting urged lawmakers to act quickly, warning that the industry is approaching what some described as a “point of no return” as athlete salaries rise and legal challenges continue.
Whether Trump’s proposed executive order or congressional legislation will significantly reshape college athletics remains uncertain, but both the White House and lawmakers appear increasingly focused on addressing the growing upheaval in the multibillion-dollar college sports industry.
