EXECUTIVE ORDER AIMED AT SAVING COLLEGE SPORTS

May 6

Alex Weiss | May 7, 2026

On April 3, 2026, President Trump signed the “URGENT NATIONAL ACTION TO SAVE COLLEGE SPORTS” Executive Order, a measure aimed at closing transfer loopholes and restoring comparative balance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The order “protects college sports by using federal authority to support enforcement of clear, consistent, and fair rules on eligibility, transfers, and compensation, while promoting sustainable revenue-sharing and stronger protections for student-athletes” (The White House). The changes take effect on August 1, 2026, and will target both competitive and economic aspects of college sports.

The Executive Order

Trump’s directive seeks to complete a number of objectives, including resolving the “pay for play” chaos, universities’ athletic debt, unfair competition, and the risk of cutting non-revenue sports. Specifically, the executive order will set national standards for player eligibility, transfer rules, and NIL rules, while also focusing on creating a uniform and streamlined system for how college sports, and specifically the NIL and eligibility, are handled at the university, state, and national levels. The measure will increase the NCAA’s ability to control its players and will be enforced with the threat of losing federal grants or contracts being pulled (Crawford & Marcello). Its signing came just a month after a meeting at the White House with influential figures in college sports, who shared concern for the current system’s chaos and lack of regulation.

Major Changes

Perhaps the largest change proposed by Trump’s Order was the return to the one-time transfer rule, with a second transfer triggering a redshirt season. This ‘5-in-5’ model (five years to play five seasons) discourages transferring, limiting player mobility in a way that regulates the system. This system also prevents the “pay-for-play” model from allowing players to use the transfer portal in the same way professional athletes use free agency. The executive order would also “introduce federal regulations for the hundreds of multimillion dollar NIL collectives” (Kussoy, 2026). This would bring NCAA athletics back to a system similar to the pre-NIL world, limiting the impact of large donors and collectives from heavily influencing college sports.

Supporting Voices

Since the executive order’s signing in April, many prominent voices in and around college athletics have spoken out to express their support. NCAA President Charlie Baker spoke out in support of Trump’s proposal, calling it a “significant step forward,” and saying that the Association appreciates “the Administration's interest and attention to these issues” (Crawford & Morello, 2026). Nick Saban, former head coach of the LSU and Alabama football programs, where he won a combined seven national championships, also feels that the executive order is a positive change for college sports. He attended Trump’s White House meeting prior to the Executive Order’s signing, and has since been very outspoken about the many ways it benefits college sports.

The Future of College Sports

There are a number of concerns and areas of uncertainty regarding the executive order. For example, there are questions about how enforceable aspects of it are, specifically citing the need for Congress to pass legislation to enact meaningful, long-term change. Executive Orders can be reversed by the courts, meaning the enforcement is only as sustainable as the judicial system allows it to be. Furthermore, past efforts of similar nature have been struck down by courts and deemed unenforceable. Trump uses ambiguous and unclear language when it describes the government’s role in the transition process, which raises more concerns. All of these factors combine with the already chaotic and evolving laws and regulations regarding NIL, eligibility, and the transfer portal. Still, come August, the executive order will take effect with the ultimate goal of restoring fairness and regulation to college sports.

References

Crawford, B., & Marcello, B. (2026, April 3). President Trump signs executive order aimed at college sports, targeting transfers and eligibility. CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/donald-trump-president-executive-order-college-sports-transfers-eligibility-nil/

Kussoy, H. (2026, April 3). Trump issues widespread NIL executive order in attempt to fix college athletics. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/04/03/sports/trump-issues-widespread-nil-executive-order-in-attempt-to-fix-college-athletics/

Trump, D. (2026, April 3). Urgent national action to save college sports. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/urgent-national-action-to-save-college-sports/