Trump to Host White House Roundtable on College Athletics, NIL, and Transfer Portal

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to host a roundtable discussion at the White House on March 6. The event will focus on the evolving landscape of college athletics, specifically addressing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies and the transfer portal system. Numerous figures from college sports, other athletic organizations, and political spheres have been invited to participate.

Event Details and Leadership

The roundtable is slated to take place at the White House. Former President Trump is expected to chair the discussion. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees president Randy Levine are anticipated to serve as vice chairs for the event.

Diverse Group of Leaders and Athletes Invited

Invitations have been extended to a diverse group of individuals, reflecting the broad impact and interest in college athletics:

• Coaches and Directors:
  • Former Alabama coach Nick Saban
  • Former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer
  • Notre Dame athletics director Pete Bevacqua
  • Former Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick
  • Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman
  • Athletics directors from Wake Forest, Indiana, Iowa State, and Oklahoma
• Athletes and Boosters:
  • Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow
  • Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell
• Conference Commissioners:
  • Tony Petitti (Big Ten)
  • Greg Sankey (SEC)
  • Brett Yormark (Big 12)
  • Jim Phillips (ACC)
• Figures from Outside College Sports:
  • Golf legend Tiger Woods
  • Golfer Bryson DeChambeau
  • NBA commissioner Adam Silver
  • Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Background and Context for Federal Involvement

Mr. Trump has previously expressed his intention to engage with issues within college athletics. Earlier plans for former coach Nick Saban and booster Cody Campbell to lead a presidential commission on college sports were paused. In 2025, Mr. Trump issued an executive order related to college sports, which targeted third-party NIL deals and alleged pay-for-play schemes.

He has also held discussions with figures such as Nick Saban and Urban Meyer on these topics, including a golf outing with Saban, Meyer, and Governor DeSantis earlier in the month.

Mr. Trump has commented on the financial aspects of college sports, particularly regarding athlete compensation, indicating a potential need for federal intervention in the sector.

"You’re going to have these colleges wipe themselves out, and something ought to be done. And I’m willing to put the federal government behind it. But if it’s not done fast, you’re going to wipe out colleges. They’re going to get wiped out, including ones that do well in football. They can’t pay $12 million, $14 million, $10 million, $6 million for players. They won’t be able to stop. There’ll always be that one player, they only have that player, they’re going to win the national championship. And they’ll have 100 colleges thinking the same thing. Colleges cannot afford to play this game. It’s a very bad thing that’s happening."