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Trump Considering Executive Order To Restrict NIL, College Payments After Meeting With Nick Saban

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) U.S. President Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump stand for the National Anthem during the Super Bowl LIX Pregame at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)

President Donald Trump is considering an executive order to address payments for college athletes and name, image and likeness (NIL) deals in college sports.

Trump met with former Alabama Football head coach Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Saban has been a strong critic of NIL in college athletics.

The order could potentially add oversight to NIL, which has exploded across college athletics. As it stands now, there aren’t many regulations for NIL.

An executive order would still need congressional approval, according to NCAA president Charlie Baker.

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Senator and former college football head coach Tommy Tuberville also met with Trump to discuss NIL regulations.

“College football is the heart and soul of America — but it’s in danger if we don’t level the playing field,” Tuberville posted on social media.

NIL has changed the landscape of college athletics. Players have the opportunity to earn as much or in some cases, more money, when participating in college athletics than they would professional league.

Former Texas and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers reportedly turned down an $8 million NIL offer to transfer to another college before entering the NFL draft. His current contract with the Dolphins is for four years and $4.3 million.

The specific ways in which the order could affect NIL are not clear at this point.