President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday related to college sports and NIL.
The executive order, which is titled “President Donald J. Trump Saves College Sports,” is intended to help enforce new provisions on athletic scholarships and “pay-for-play” licensing deals for athletes.
Here is an excerpt from ESPN:
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Trump’s order sets out specific guidelines for preserving athletic scholarships based on an athletic department’s annual revenue. It also declares that schools should not permit athletes to accept “third-party, pay-for-play payments.” The order states that Secretary of Education Linda McMahon should use future federal funding decisions among other tools to force schools to abide by the administration’s policy.
The NCAA always has prohibited pay-for-play payment from third parties. In the past several years, college sports leaders have struggled to find ways to stop boosters at the industry’s wealthiest schools from paying athletes via contracts that are endorsement deals on paper but function in reality as de facto salaries.
“A national solution is urgently needed to prevent this situation from deteriorating beyond repair and to protect non-revenue sports, including many women’s sports, that comprise the backbone of intercollegiate athletics,” Trump stated in the order.
The executive order states that endorsement deals from third parties should continue to be permitted so long as they reflect a “fair market value.”
Arkansas head coach John Calipari spoke out about the executive order, saying he is “encouraged” by the move:
I am encouraged by the President’s executive order today. This is an important step forward and will create opportunity for meaningful dialogue and movement toward a clearer picture of college athletics for everyone.
As we move forward, we must continue to do what’s right for…
— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) July 24, 2025
You can read the actual executive order here
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