The White House will host a college sports roundtable on Friday, March 6, bringing together major figures from across college athletics to address mounting challenges facing the industry.
Outkick first reported last week that the White House was planning the event to “navigate the current landscape of college athletics that is currently mired in plenty of controversy.”
President Donald Trump will chair the roundtable. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees president Randy Levine will serve as vice chairs.
Trump signed an executive order in 2025 aimed at “protecting men’s and women’s college sports programs.” The administration promised to “provide the stability, fairness, and balance necessary to protect student-athletes, collegiate athletic scholarships and opportunities,” per The Hill.
The roundtable will focus on several key issues reshaping college athletics.
NIL and Transfer Portal Changes
Name, Image and Likeness deals will dominate discussions given their impact on college sports.
Trump’s 2025 executive order already set new restrictions on payments to college athletes. The order prohibits pay-to-play payments from third-party sources but doesn’t restrict NIL payments.
According to On3, the transfer portal will also be addressed during the roundtable.
Many lawmakers have expressed concern about how NIL deals at top schools have affected the competitive landscape.
Collective Bargaining Discussions
Collective bargaining with players represents another major topic, according to Fox.
ESPN reported in December 2025 that athletic directors now consider collective bargaining after once finding it “unthinkable.” They’re seeking stability and an enforceable framework of rules.
Players would need employee status to negotiate legally binding deals. The NCAA has long opposed athletes becoming employees.
Without an antitrust exemption following the House Settlement and College Sports Commission formation, rule enforcement remains limited.
Government Role in College Sports
The government’s role in enforcing college sports rules will be addressed.
The NCAA faces new lawsuits almost weekly. Calls for government intervention have increased steadily.
Government involvement has already expanded through Trump’s executive order and the House vs. NCAA settlement, which permits schools to share roughly $20 million annually with athletes.
Trump’s Executive Order Details
Trump signed the executive order in July 2025 to restrict certain payments to college athletes.
It prohibited pay-to-play payments from third-party sources while allowing NIL payments. The order came after the House settlement enabled universities to pay players directly.
“The Order provides that any revenue-sharing permitted between universities and collegiate athletes should be implemented in a manner that protects women’s and non-revenue sports. The Order requires the preservation and, where possible, expansion of opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports.”
The SCORE Act
The SCORE Act aims to regulate NIL deals and college sports structure.
Per Fox News, it would give the NCAA limited antitrust exemption to protect against lawsuits over eligibility rules. It would prohibit athletes from becoming school employees and ban schools from using student fees for NIL payments.
The bill requires schools generating $20 million or more in annual athletics revenue to provide counseling and medical benefits to student-athletes and maintain at least 16 varsity sports teams.
A House vote on the SCORE Act was canceled in December before reaching the floor. The White House had endorsed the legislation, but three Republicans joined Democrats in opposition, per Fox News.
Confirmed and Expected Attendees
Nick Saban, the former Alabama head coach and current ESPN analyst, received an invitation, per Outkick. On3 included Saban on Thursday’s confirmed invite list, though his attendance isn’t certain.
Trump has “relied on” Saban for advice on “ways to fix current problems plaguing college athletics,” according to Outkick.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to attend, On3 reported Thursday.
NCAA President Charlie Baker will be in attendance, per Outkick.
Conference Commissioners
All Power-4 conference commissioners are expected to attend.
According to On3, confirmed attendees include:
• SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey
• Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti
• ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips
• Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark
• American Commissioner Tim Pernetti
Tiger Woods will represent high-profile athletes at the roundtable, per On3.
Additional Invitees
Other expected attendees include:
• Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell
• Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
The following figures received invitations:
• Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer
• USA Olympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland
• Former North Carolina head coach Mack Brown
• Former Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward
• Former Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione
• Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua
• Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard
• Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson
• Clemson president Jim Clements
• Nebraska president Jeff Gold
• Tennessee president Donde Plowman
• Utah president Taylor Randall
• Georgia president Jere Morehead
• ESPN and Fox executives
Per Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, Tim Tebow and Bryson DeChambeau are unable to attend the roundtable.
The roundtable represents the most significant gathering of college sports leaders at the White House in recent memory as the industry faces unprecedented challenges from NIL, transfer portal activity, and ongoing legal battles.
