Trump's Executive Order on NIL: What It Means for the Future of College Sports

Mwanje Thompson
Jul 26
2 min read

On July 25, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "SAVING COLLEGE SPORTS," aimed at regulating the new world of college athletics, where student-athletes can now profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) and receive direct payments from schools.

What Prompted This Order?

Since 2021, NIL has transformed college sports. Athletes can now sign brand deals and, more recently, receive school payments. But critics say this has led to chaos—unfair recruiting, gender equity concerns, and debates over whether athletes are employees.

Trump’s order steps in, but it’s controversial.

Key Takeaways from the Executive Order

Ban on Pay-for-Play Deals: Boosters and third parties would be prohibited from offering direct payments unless it's for legitimate services like endorsements. This could limit how much athletes earn.
Scholarship Safeguards: Schools must maintain or grow scholarships in non-revenue sports (like women’s and Olympic sports) to prevent budget cuts.
Athletes Not Employees: The order seeks to confirm that athletes aren’t employees, blocking them from collective bargaining with schools.
Legal Shield for NCAA: The EO supports protecting the NCAA from lawsuits by athletes, thereby reinforcing NCAA authority over matters such as transfers and NIL rules.

What Happens Next?

The order isn’t law, but it pressures Congress as it debates the SCORE Act—a bipartisan bill that aligns with many of Trump’s proposals. Some lawmakers are pushing back, calling for a fairer system that centers athletes' rights.

Why This Matters

Black and Brown athletes dominate revenue sports and are most impacted by these shifts. Limiting NIL and labor rights could reinforce existing inequities in college sports.

Call to Action

Stay informed and support policies that uplift student-athletes, not silence them.

Sow a seed for equity in college sports—follow the stories, uplift the athletes, and demand fair treatment.

References

Nadkarni, R. (2025, July 26). What to know about Donald Trump's executive order on NIL and college sports. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com

Supreme Court of the United States. (2021). NCAA v. Alston, 594 U.S. ___ (2021).

National Labor Relations Board. (2025). Memorandum on the employment status of college athletes.