Connect with us

NIL

Trump considers executive order regarding payments to college athletes

Trump’s review of the matter comes in the wake of a conversation he had with former Alabama football coach Nick Saban earlier this week. Trump says he will revoke tax-exempt status for Harvard University The Trump administration has threatened to freeze $2 billion in federal funding after not agreeing to a list of demands from […]

Published

on



Trump’s review of the matter comes in the wake of a conversation he had with former Alabama football coach Nick Saban earlier this week.

play

  • Sen. Richard Blumenthal, amid talks with Sen. Ted Cruz for bill, says Trump “has no power to attempt to rule by decree — especially to give handouts to the NCAA.”

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump is giving “serious consideration” to signing an executive order that would address payments to college athletes, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to USA TODAY on May 2.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Trump’s review of the matter comes in the wake of a conversation he had with former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban on May 1, when Trump was in Tuscaloosa to speak at the university’s commencement ceremonies.

The order could potentially add oversight to name, image and likeness, or NIL, that has exploded across college athletics with few regulations, although how the order would address NIL was not immediately clear.

The Wall Street Journal first reported Trump’s consideration of the action, which would add to the more than 140 executive orders Trump has signed in his first 102 days, spanning a range of issues.

Saban has been critical of the current state of college sports, including at a roundtable event in Washington that was hosted by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in March 2024 as part of Cruz’s ongoing efforts to craft college-sports legislation that can pass Congress.

Saban said at the time that athletes’ “personal development” was being hindered by the combination of virtually unregulated opportunities for athletes to make money from NIL and their ability to transfer multiple times in their college careers. He also called for “rules that create some kind of competitive balance, which right now we don’t have in college athletics. It’s whoever wants to pay the most money, raise the most money, buy the most players is going to have the best opportunity to win. I don’t think that’s the spirit of college athletics.”

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, said he had a “great conversation” with Trump on Air Force One about “the importance of establishing national standards for NIL” during the president’s trip to his state.

“College football is the heart and soul of America ‒ but it’s in danger if we don’t level the playing field,” said Tuberville, a former football coach at Auburn University and other schools.

Trump’s potential entry into this area comes as lawyers for the plaintiffs, the NCAA and the Power Five conferences have been trying to revise one aspect of the proposed settlement of three athlete-compensation antitrust cases that U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken has said she is otherwise prepared to give final approval.

Under the arrangement, $2.8 billion in damages would be paid to current and former athletes — and their lawyers — over 10 years, and Division I schools would be able to start paying athletes directly for use of their NIL, subject to a per-school cap that would increase over time and be based on a percentage of certain athletics revenues. Athletes would continue to be allowed to have NIL deals with non-school entities, but any deals worth $600 or more would be subject to greater scrutiny than they are now.

While the proposed settlement would solve some problems for the NCAA and its conferences and schools, they have continued to lobby Congress for legislation that would, among other things, enshrine in federal law athletes’ NIL rights, preempt dozens of state laws that have been passed in connection with athletes’ NIL rights and give the NCAA a measure of legal protection against antitrust actions. This is where Trump could step in.

Trump instructed White House aides to begin studying what an order would look like, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on the night of May 2, said in a statement to USA TODAY of Trump’s potential involvement: “College sports reform can only happen through Congressional legislation based on bipartisan negotiations that put college athletes first. The President is welcome to support Senate negotiations, but he has no power to attempt to rule by decree — especially to give handouts to the NCAA over the blood, sweat, and tears of players.”

One of the lead lawyers for the plaintiffs in the ongoing antitrust case, Steve Berman, in a statement to USA TODAY, blasted the prospect of Trump’s involvement in any way that would limit athletes.

“The president says he is the greatest business person ever,” Berman wrote. “Why would he do anything to limit the business deals students are negotiating for their NIL. He has been a benefit of the free market why not these young athletes[.]

“As for Saban what a hypocrite. He has been an opponent of NIL from the start while he made tens of millions off the backs of these athletes. Even [J]ustice Kavanaugh, one of (Trump’s) appointed judges, stated in his [A]lston decision that this was wrong.

“Trump should talk to coach (Jim) Harbaugh who is a fan of the burgeoning NIL market and not a fan of the system of coach exploitation that Saban benefited from[.]”

Berman was referencing Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion to the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in the Alston vs. NCAA antitrust case in which the high court ended the association’s limits on education-related benefits athletes can receive for playing college sports. Kavanaugh heavily criticized the NCAA’s limits on athletes’ compensation, writing, among other things: “The NCAA’s business model would be flatly illegal in almost any other industry in America.”

Harbaugh, now with the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, repeatedly advocated for greater compensation for college athletes during his nine seasons as the University of Michigan’s football coach.



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NIL

Top Classes and Emerging Trends

As the 2026 college football recruiting cycle gains momentum, several programs have distinguished themselves with impressive early commitments. Rankings will always be different, varying sites and analysts and they are subject to change as the cycle progresses, but here’s an overview of the top recruiting classes and standout commitments shaping the future of college football. […]

Published

on


As the 2026 college football recruiting cycle gains momentum, several programs have distinguished themselves with impressive early commitments. Rankings will always be different, varying sites and analysts and they are subject to change as the cycle progresses, but here’s an overview of the top recruiting classes and standout commitments shaping the future of college football.

Top 5 Recruiting Classes (Early Standings in no Order)

1. Ohio State

  • Top Commitments: Five-Star Wide Receiver Chris Henry Jr., Four-Star Safety Blaine Bradford, Four-Star Linebacker Simeon Caldwell, and Four-Star Offensive Tackle Maxwell Riley

Class Overview:

Ryan Day has the luxury of building his 2026 class around one of the most coveted players in the country: five-star receiver Henry, whose father, the late Chris Henry, was a star receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry Jr. stands 6-6 and has a combination of length and quickness that isn’t seen too often from players coming out of high school. He could rival Jeremiah Smith for day one impact readiness for a school that is clearly turning into WRU in college football. The rest of the Buckeyes’ class has started to take shape, totaling 13 recruits in the top 300 as of now. The team has added a handful of ESPN 300 prospects since March, including Blaine Bradford out of Louisiana and linebacker Simeon Caldwell out of Florida. 

2. USC Trojans

  • Top Commitments: Five-star Cornerback Elbert Hill, five-star cornerback RJ Sermons, five-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe and four-star defensive lineman Jaimeon Winfield.

Class Overview:

Under the leadership of head coach Lincoln Riley, USC has assembled a formidable defensive class, highlighted by multiple five-star recruits. The Trojans’ aggressive recruiting strategy has positioned them as a national contender. The Trojans have double-digit (14) ESPN 300 commits as of today and with several joining the list since January. The Trojans have seemed to put an emphasis on building up the defense since this has been a glaring weakness for the team over the last few years.

The Trojans have also been doing a good job stealing recruits from different states that are usually associated in their pipeline states, and this could be the differentiator for staying as a top class in 2026. The move of hiring Chad Bowden from Notre Dame seems to be paying dividends with big recruiting advantages along with dominating the transfer portal as well. 

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

  • Top Commitments: Five-star offensive tackle Tyler Merrill, four-star quarterback Noah Grubbs, and four-star edge rusher Rodney Dunham.

Class Overview:

Notre Dame has bolstered its reputation as an offensive line powerhouse with the addition of Merrill. The Fighting Irish are also strengthening their defense and quarterback position, aiming for a balanced and competitive class. After shocking the CFB world by making the CFP final last year, the Fighting Irish look to keep the momentum rolling by staying on top of the college football world getting a top 2026 class to keep retooling their roster.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions

  • Top Commitments: Four-star offensive lineman Kevin Brown, four-star edge rusher Daniel Jennings, and four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone.

Class Overview:

Penn State is capitalizing on its recent College Football Playoff appearance by securing top in-state talent and expanding its reach. The Nittany Lions’ emphasis on both offensive and defensive line prospects reflects their commitment to building a strong foundation throughout the entire team, creating a balanced 2026 class. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a fast start fueled by strong in-state recruiting and have kept that momentum going. Several of their top commits are Pennsylvania natives, including four-star Harrisburg High School teammates Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens. This also included a verbal commitment from four-star QB Peyton Falzone.

James Franklin also landed in-state athlete David Davis Jr., who has clocked a 20.5 mph max speed and has the cover skills to fit into the back end of a defense one day. Franklin is owning his state, which is critical when staying on top of the recruiting rankings and making sure the top talent doesn’t leave your backyard, especially as some of the top programs around the Country like to dip into Pennsylvania.

5. Georgia Bulldogs

  • Top Commitments: Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, Four-star Cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick, and Four-star Wide Receiver Vance Spafford

Class Overview:

The Bulldogs have been a consistent staple among the top three overall classes during Kirby Smart’s tenure and look to do so again in 2026. A big step toward finishing near the top is bringing five-star quarterback Curtis back into the mix. After a decommitment, the Bulldogs were able to fend off other suitors and give themselves a potential impact QB for the future they’ve been looking for years now, after getting multiple top QB recruits in recent past. Fitzpatrick has great lineage, being the brother of NFL safety Minkah Fitzpatrick as he plays a very similar style of football to his brother, which bodes well for Georgia.

Emerging Trends

  • Regional Strengths: Programs are increasingly focusing on regional recruiting to build strong pipelines. For instance, Penn State’s emphasis on in-state talent from Pennsylvania has bolstered its class rankings. Illinois seems to be joining this list by keeping top recruit Nasir Rankin inside his home state as well. Good recruiting starts by dominating your home ground, and an unexpected program keeping elite players at home is massive for their trajectory.

  • Top Recruits going against the norm: Zion Elee, a five-star defensive end from Maryland, is ranked as the No. 1 defensive prospect in the 2026 class. His commitment to Maryland is a historic one, being the highest-rated recruit in the program’s history.  Rutgers got two top wide receiver recruits in Dyzier Carter and Elias Coke, both being four-stars. Syracuse has a top ten class according to multiple sources which is great for coach Fran Brown to continue to build on his image.

Conclusion

The 2026 recruiting cycle is shaping up to be highly competitive, with several programs making significant early commitments. While rankings are fluid and subject to change, the current landscape indicates a strong emphasis on building balanced teams with a focus on both offensive and defensive prowess. The normal suspects for having top recruiting classes seem to be at the top still but watch out for a few sleeper teams that are looking to spend their NIL money in order to get into the upper echelon of college football. As the cycle progresses, expect these rankings to evolve, with programs continuing to secure top-tier talent across the nation.

More College Football Recruiting News:



Link

Continue Reading

NIL

‘It Welcomes the Underbelly Back’ — Greg McElroy Sounds Alarm on NIL Go’s Risk for College Football

College football is now at a critical point where rules intended to provide clarity can also bring back the darkest times for the game. Greg McElroy, an ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback with extensive experience in the game’s history, has expressed his concern about new college football regulations that may lead to negative outbreaks. […]

Published

on


College football is now at a critical point where rules intended to provide clarity can also bring back the darkest times for the game. Greg McElroy, an ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback with extensive experience in the game’s history, has expressed his concern about new college football regulations that may lead to negative outbreaks.

A Champion’s Perspective on College Football’s Dangerous Gamble

McElroy knows college football’s underbelly better than most. The 2010 BCS National Champion turned ESPN analyst has spent over a decade analyzing the sport’s transformation, from his playing days at Alabama through the Wild West era of early NIL to today’s increasingly regulated landscape. His recent comments about NIL Go, the new Deloitte-managed clearinghouse, paint a troubling picture of potential regression.

“Here’s the unforeseen circumstance that surrounds the NIL Go platform: It welcomes the underbelly of college football back into the sport, potentially,” McElroy warned during his Always College Football podcast.

His concern stems from a fundamental shift in how college athletics approaches player compensation. The NIL market is projected to reach $1.67 billion in 2024-25.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Today’s starting quarterbacks for the top 25 teams earn an average of $821,000 annually, expected to climb to $1.31 million by 2025. But McElroy’s warning suggests this prosperity might be short-lived if new regulations drive transactions underground.

“Right now it’s free. It’s fair. You’re allowed to give guys whatever you want to give them,” McElroy explained, referencing the current system where collectives account for over 80 percent of the NIL market. The former quarterback’s concern intensifies when considering that 72 percent of the collective money flows to football players, creating a massive target for regulatory scrutiny.

The NIL Go platform, launched June 11, 2025, requires all third-party deals exceeding $600 to undergo a fair-market-value assessment by Deloitte. As industry expert Stewart Mandel noted, this threshold captures virtually every meaningful NIL arrangement. The College Sports Commission, led by CEO Bryan Seeley, wields unprecedented enforcement power, including player suspensions and postseason bans.

McElroy’s historical perspective proves particularly relevant. College football’s past is littered with scandals involving illegal payments, from Alabama’s Albert Means case that cost the program $200,000 and resulted in a two-year bowl ban, to Arkansas losing scholarships over the J&H Trucking Service violations.

Former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel recently confirmed what many suspected: “There was a bag man at LSU. There was a bag man at ‘Bama. There was a bag man at every school around the country if you were competing for a national title”.

“But now that every single NIL deal could potentially be scrutinized, it welcomes bad actors back into the game,” McElroy continued, highlighting the paradox at the heart of his concern. If legitimate NIL deals face rejection or extensive review, the temptation to circumvent the system through traditional under-the-table payments becomes more attractive.
KEEP READING: Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion Banks $2,500,000 Just Weeks After HC Mike Elko’s NIL Warning
The numbers support McElroy’s anxiety. With the House settlement providing $2.8 billion in back damages to former players while restricting future earning potential through increased regulation, the pressure on programs to find competitive advantages intensifies. Schools can now pay athletes directly up to $20.5 million annually, but this caps total compensation rather than expanding it.

“So does that now welcome back some of the back alley payments we once saw in the sport that had gone away for the last few years?” McElroy asked, capturing the essential tension between transparency and accessibility.

His warning is powerful because it raises awareness of college football’s cyclical nature. It is the nature of the game that specific actions taken in a good-faith attempt to reform might lead to unexpected consequences and thus repeat the problems they aimed to solve.





Link

Continue Reading

NIL

Kalani Sitake discusses NIL & more

Published

on

Kalani Sitake discusses NIL & more


Continue Reading

NIL

UNC baseball gets transfer portal commitment from Duke catcher Macon Winslow

AI-assisted summaryWinslow batted .278 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 2024.He is the sixth transfer portal addition for the Tar Heels.Winslow will likely replace outgoing UNC catcher Luke Stevenson, a projected 2025 first-round MLB Draft pick.Duke baseball transfer Macon Winslow has committed to North Carolina, he announced June 16 in a social media […]

Published

on

UNC baseball gets transfer portal commitment from Duke catcher Macon Winslow


AI-assisted summaryWinslow batted .278 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 2024.He is the sixth transfer portal addition for the Tar Heels.Winslow will likely replace outgoing UNC catcher Luke Stevenson, a projected 2025 first-round MLB Draft pick.Duke baseball transfer Macon Winslow has committed to North Carolina, he announced June 16 in a social media post. 

A sophomore catcher for the Blue Devils, Winslow had a .278 batting average, nine home runs and 48 RBIs as the primary option behind the plate. He entered the transfer portal after former Duke coach Chris Pollard was hired by Virginia. 

“New Chapter,” Winslow wrote in an Instagram post, which featured a ram emoji and #GoHeels.

Winslow had 13 doubles and 31 walks for Duke, which was one win away from a trip to the College World Series in Omaha. UNC was in the same position, coming up a victory short of consecutive trips to Nebraska, but the Tar Heels have likely found their replacement for starting catcher Luke Stevenson. 

Stevenson, a sophomore standout at UNC, is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Winslow steps in as a two-year player who became a reliable option in Durham, where he started 96 of his 100 games with the program. 

Winslow is the Tar Heels’ sixth transfer portal addition and second catcher, joining Georgia State catcher Colin Hynek. Stony Brook first baseman Erik Paulsen, Georgia State outfielder Michael Maginnis, North Dakota State shortstop Jake Schaffner and UNCW pitcher Trace Baker also committed to join coach Scott Forbes at UNC. 

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.

Continue Reading

NIL

LaNorris Sellers offered $8 million NIL deal to leave South Carolina, father says

LaNorris Sellers emerged as one of college football’s best young quarterbacks and one of the top returning players at the position, but the SEC Freshman Player of the Year was being offered big money to turn his back on South Carolina. Sellers’ father says the quarterback was offered an NIL deal worth $8 million over […]

Published

on


LaNorris Sellers emerged as one of college football’s best young quarterbacks and one of the top returning players at the position, but the SEC Freshman Player of the Year was being offered big money to turn his back on South Carolina.

Sellers’ father says the quarterback was offered an NIL deal worth $8 million over two years to leave the Gamecocks and go to their school.

“He was offered all kinds of crazy numbers,” Sellers’ father told The Athletic.

“I told him he could say, ‘I’m gonna stay or I’m gonna go.’ By my two cents, it was to get into college on a scholarship, play ball, get our degree, and go on about our business.

“This NIL deal came later. We didn’t come here to make money. We came here to get our education, play ball. And with schools calling, we’re not gonna jump ship because they’re offering more than what we’re getting. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Sellers threw for 2,534 yards and scored 18 touchdowns while throwing 7 interceptions last fall, helping propel South Carolina to a turnaround 9-4 record last season.

He became the third freshman in history to throw for at least 2,500 yards and rush for another 500 yards, alongside Jalen Hurts and Johnny Manziel.

The quarterback preferred to stay at South Carolina and establish his legacy there.

“You’re 19. You don’t need [$8 million]. You’re in a great spot,” Sellers’ father said. “There were several talks, but it never really crossed his mind [to leave].

“It’s a challenge with colleges offering younger guys that kind of money. Who’s gonna say no to $8 million for two years? They’re gonna be swayed if you don’t have the right people in your corner.”

(Athletic)



Link

Continue Reading

NIL

Locked On Women’s Basketball: Unpacking the House settlement

Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month! Here at The Next and The IX, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at editors@thenexthoops.com to discuss […]

Published

on



Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month!

Here at The Next and The IX, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at editors@thenexthoops.com to discuss ways to work together.


Heidrick actually opens the show by taking a moment to talk about the WNBA. “First and foremost, Caitlin Clark missed five games for the Fever, and it has been a struggle for them,” Heidrick says. “But she was back … [with] 32 points in her big return. … She got hot, she found a rhythm.” Per Heidrick, the Fever needed that.

Later on, Heidrick discusses the implications of the House settlement and how it will affect current and former college athletes. “The NCAA is going to pay almost $3 billion in back damages over the next 10 years to athletes who competed in college at any time from 2016 to the present day,” Heidrick informs listeners. She goes onto provide more context for this massive update, including how the funding will be allocated and which programs will benefit the most from this settlement.


Photo of the cover of "Becoming Caitlin Clark," a new book written by Howard Megdal.

Save 30% when you preorder “Becoming Caitlin Clark”

Howard Megdal’s newest book will be released this June! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.

Click the link below to preorder and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.


Heidrick closes out the show by discussing how roster limits, another aspect of the House settlement, will affect some women’s sports. Per Heidrick, unless some teams and programs find other ways to generate revenue, “someone is going to get left behind.” As Heidrick warns, “there are going to be cuts, people are going to feel this, because that money just does not grow on trees.”

Make sure to subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about women’s college basketball, the WNBA, basketball history and much more!


The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.




Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending