Overview

• President Donald Trump is exploring an executive order to regulate name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments for college athletes, following discussions with retired coach Nick Saban.
• Trump has directed aides to establish a federal commission on college athletics to address NIL rules, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and Title IX compliance.
• Nick Saban, who retired in 2024 citing concerns over NIL, is expected to co-chair the commission alongside a prominent business figure with ties to college sports.
• Senator Tommy Tuberville has joined Saban in advocating for executive action on NIL, emphasizing the need for regulatory oversight in college athletics.
• The proposed federal involvement has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising the effort to address disparities while others criticize it as unnecessary interference in athlete compensation.