Days after a landmark legal settlement was issued by a California judge that will permit schools to begin paying college athletes directly starting July 1, some of the biggest power brokers in college sports are courting the sitting president.
According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua met with President Donald Trump on Sunday at his golf course in Bedminster, NJ to discuss the future of college athletics. While Friday’s decision opened the door for college athletes to be paid directly, much still needs to be sorted out regarding how direct payments will be governed.
Per Dellenger, “The three men are expected to spend extended time together beyond their round of golf as NCAA leaders seek Congressional and White House assistance for a federal standard to stabilize and regulate what’s become an unruly structure. Trump has grown interested in the issues, even deeply exploring the possibility of issuing an executive order and creating a commission to study the many developments — such as player movement in the transfer portal, booster-backed compensation to athletes, and the impact on women and Olympic sports.” The reporter also suggests that Sunday’s outing “could trigger action from the White House, or possibly expedite Congressional negotiations over college sports legislation.”
Of course, any potential legislation or executive order could have far-reaching impacts on college athletics more generally. As the financial gap between the Big Ten, SEC, and everyone else continues to grow, and discussions about College Football Playoff expansion trudge along, governance over paying players can have massive implications over competitive balance in college football. That balance is vital to the health of college football as an entertainment property, one that television networks pay billions of dollars for the right to air.
