President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on college sports has triggered a strong response from veteran sports agent Leigh Steinberg. The order, titled Saving College Sports, seeks to regulate the business side of college athletics by imposing restrictions on payments to athletes and ensuring the preservation of resources for women’s sports. Steinberg, who has represented numerous high-profile athletes, praised the initiative as a necessary step to address the growing issues in the collegiate sports landscape.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Steinberg acknowledged that the recent changes in the recruiting and transfer portal had led to a loss of control, prompting the need for regulatory intervention. The executive order aims to limit the financial aspects of college sports by restricting third-party payments to athletes and ensuring that resources are allocated to support women’s athletics, which often generate less revenue than men’s sports.
The timing of the executive order is significant, as the recent House vs. NCAA Supreme Court settlement legalized the direct payment of college athletes via revenue sharing. Previously, athletes were only allowed to earn money through NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities. However, the Trump administration’s mandate prevents athletes from accepting money from any third-party sources, a move that has sparked debate within the sports community.
While the order has received bipartisan support, some critics argue that it could limit the financial opportunities for athletes and stifle the growth of the NIL market. Steinberg expressed concern that the language of the order must be carefully defined to balance the need for regulation with the protection of the NIL market. He emphasized the importance of establishing clear guidelines that prevent third-party pay-for-play while allowing boosters and other entities to contribute to college sports programs.
Steinberg also called for the implementation of a salary cap in college football and men’s basketball, suggesting that such a measure would help address the growing disparities in athlete compensation. The executive order will soon be followed by a proposed framework that will outline the specific details of the regulation. As the administration prepares to implement the changes, the sports industry awaits the final details, which could have significant financial implications for colleges and athletes alike.