Significant momentum for college sports reform is underway at the White House. President Donald Trump has initiated five committees dedicated to various aspects of college athletics—focusing on legislation, rules, NCAA reform, media, and player concerns—with meetings slated to kick off next week, according to sources sharing insights with CBS Sports. An Oversight Committee will consolidate the recommendations from these groups and make the ultimate decisions.
This development follows President Trump’s unprecedented “Saving College Sports” roundtable held earlier this month in Washington D.C. At this event, a broad spectrum of stakeholders—ranging from college sports leaders to media executives and politicians—gathered for a comprehensive discussion.
The extended meeting was a clear reflection of the pressing need to tackle systemic challenges within college athletics, from NIL regulations to the financial viability of programs across all sports.
At the roundtable, participants conveyed a sobering image of college sports in crisis. Coaches and athletic administrators described the challenges of juggling competitive success with the development and well-being of student-athletes.
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban pointed out that the prevailing system complicates preparations for players transitioning to life beyond sports. Meanwhile, former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer critiqued donor collectives as a form of “cheating” amid the already intricate NIL environment. Executives from media and professional sports reinforced the notion that college athletics serve not only as a cultural foundation but also a critical feeder for professional leagues and Olympic sports, stirring concerns about long-term talent cultivation.
Lawmakers also provided insights, highlighting the SCORE Act—a proposed bill advocating for the standardization of NIL rules and a national regulatory framework. However, achieving this legislation faces hurdles: Sen. Ted Cruz emphasized the need for 60 Senate votes, with many Democrats showing reluctance to support it. Stakeholders underscored the necessity of compromise, acknowledging that it would be unrealistic for any one group to secure all of its objectives.
In light of this, President Trump has swiftly established five committees, signaling a structured approach to reform. Each committee is assigned to focus on critical areas such as legislation, rules, NCAA reform, media, and player challenges, forwarding their suggestions to the President’s Oversight Committee for final judgment. Notably, current college athletes were absent from the initial roundtable as well as from the newly created committees.
CBS Sports has learned that several leaders have been invited to participate in the five committees:
Legislative Committee
- Pete Bevacqua — Notre Dame athletic director
- Cody Campbell — Texas Tech University System Board of Regents chairman; Matador Club co-founder
- Bryson DeChambeau — LIV Golf player
- Ron DeSantis — Governor of Florida
- Sarah Hirshland — USOPC CEO
- Jonathan Kraft — New England Patriots president
- Randy Levine — New York Yankees president
- Condoleezza Rice — Former U.S. Secretary of State
- Nick Saban — Former Alabama head coach
- Adam Silver — NBA commissioner
Rules Committee
- Val Ackerman — Big East commissioner
- Pete Bevacqua — Notre Dame athletic director
- Charlie Baker — NCAA president
- Mack Brown — Former North Carolina head coach
- Joe Castiglione — Former Oklahoma athletic director
- John Currie — Wake Forest athletic director
- Jeremiah Dickey — Boise State athletic director
- Scott Dolson — Indiana athletic director
- Jonathan Kraft — New England Patriots president
- Lou Lamoriello — Former NHL general manager
- Urban Meyer — Former Ohio State/Jacksonville Jaguars head coach
- Tim Pernetti — AAC commissioner
- Jim Phillips — ACC commissioner
- Jamie Pollard — Iowa State athletic director
- Condoleezza Rice — Former U.S. Secretary of State
- Greg Sankey — SEC commissioner
- Nick Saban — Former Alabama head coach
- Tony Petitti — Big Ten commissioner
- Brett Yormark — Big 12 commissioner
*Player representatives will be added
NCAA Reform
- Pete Bevacqua — Notre Dame athletic director
- David Blitzer — Blackstone co-head of private equity
- Cody Campbell — Texas Tech University System Board of Regents chairman; Matador Club co-founder
- Jay Clayton — U.S. attorney
- Ron DeSantis — Governor of Florida
- Boris Epshteyn — Political strategist
- Marc Ganis — SportsCorp president
- Gerry Cardinale / Rob Klein — RedBird Capital
- John Donahoe — Stanford athletic director
- Randy Levine — New York Yankees president
- Tim Pernetti — AAC commissioner
- Jim Phillips — ACC commissioner
- Tony Petitti — Big Ten commissioner
- Steve Ross — Miami Dolphins owner
- Adam Silver — NBA commissioner
- Jack Swarbrick — Former Notre Dame athletic director
- Brett Yormark — Big 12 commissioner
- Greg Sankey — SEC commissioner
Media Committee
- David Blitzer — Blackstone co-head of private equity
- Gerry Cardinale — RedBird Capital founder and managing partner
- Cody Campbell — Texas Tech University System Board of Regents chairman; Matador Club co-founder
- Jay Clayton — U.S. attorney
- Boris Epshteyn — Political strategist
- Marc Ganis — SportsCorp president
- Jim Phillips — ACC commissioner
- Tim Pernetti — AAC commissioner
- Tony Petitti — Big Ten commissioner
- Pete Bevacqua — Notre Dame athletic director
- Greg Sankey — SEC commissioner
- James Pitaro — ESPN chairman
- Eric Shanks — Fox Sports CEO
- Brett Yormark — Big 12 commissioner
Player Issues Committee
- Bryson DeChambeau — LIV Golf player
- Rob Klein — IMG
- Lou Lamoriello — Former NHL general manager
- Seth Levinson — ACES Baseball co-founder and agent
- Tim Tebow — Former Florida quarterback
- Charlie Ward — Former Florida State quarterback
- Tiger Woods — PGA Tour player
*Player agent representatives will be added
President’s Oversight Committee
- Cody Campbell — Texas Tech University System Board of Regents chairman
- Ron DeSantis — Governor of Florida
- Douglas Girod — Kansas chancellor
- Jeffrey Gold — Nebraska chancellor
- James Clements — Former Clemson president
- Randy Levine — New York Yankees president
- Jere Morehead — Georgia president
- Donde Plowman — Tennessee chancellor
- Taylor Randall — Utah president
- Lee Roberts — North Carolina chancellor
