President Donald Trump has signed an executive order called “Saving College Sports,” which has sparked a strong reaction from veteran sports agent Leigh Steinberg. According to Steinberg, the order was a response to the recruiting and transfer portal issues that had gotten out of control.
The NCAA logo is displayed at the center of a basketball court. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
The executive order aims to regulate the business of college sports by imposing restrictions on payments to college athletes and ensuring resources are preserved for women’s sports. This comes at a time when college athletes have more financial opportunities than ever before.
The recent House vs. NCAA Supreme Court settlement legalized universities to directly pay college athletes through revenue sharing, a first in history. Previously, college athletes could only earn money through NIL. However, Trump’s order prohibits athletes from accepting money from third-party sources to play for a specific school.
Steinberg praised the order for trying to regulate a previously unregulated field and believes it will help cool off the recruiting-for-money market by setting fair-market value standards.
The order also aims to protect resources for sports other than football and men’s basketball, especially women’s sports. It includes standards based on athletic department revenue to prevent scholarship cuts in these sports.
While the order outlines general objectives, the Trump administration has 30 days to design a framework before implementation.
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it during an indoor inauguration parade on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Steinberg suggests that clear language in the order is needed to regulate third-party contributions to recruiting without hindering other resources or the NIL market. He also calls for a salary cap in college football and men’s basketball.
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