Report: President Donald Trump plans to create commission on college sports

President Donald Trump plans to create commission on college sports in light of issues “ailing the industry,” per Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. It could be a months long endeavor, per the report.

“Trump’s involvement, though not surprising, is a landmark moment in college athletics history — the country’s most powerful elected leader potentially shaping the future of the industry,” Dellenger wrote. “Details of the commission are for now being kept private, but the group is expected to feature college sports stakeholders, prominent businesspeople with deep connections to college football and, perhaps, even a former coach and administrator.

“The commission is expected to deeply examine the unwieldy landscape of college sports, including the frequency of player movement in the transfer portal, the unregulated booster compensation paid to athletes, the debate of college athlete employment, the application of Title IX to school revenue-share payments and, even, conference membership makeup and conference television contracts, those with knowledge of the commission told Yahoo Sports.”

According to Dellenger, Trump could announce a commission through an executive order, just as he did this week when he established the “Religious Liberty Commission.” Nick Saban is expected to be integral to the commission’s work.

On Thursday, former Alabama head coach reportedly met with President Trump to discuss the issue of NIL in college athletics. Just one day later, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering an executive order that could increase scrutiny on NIL payments to college athletes.

Trump was in Tuscaloosa to deliver the University of Alabama’s commencement address. Saban introduced Trump at the event. On Monday, college football analyst David Pollack weighed in on Saban’s influence on Trump and the NIL situation.

While Pollack believes Saban’s involvement in NIL reform will help the collegiate landscape, others aren’t convinced. After the Wall Street Journal report emerged on Friday, attorney Steve Berman, who is representing current and former college athletes in the proposed $2.8. billion House vs. NCAA settlement, criticized Saban for his actions.

“Coach Saban and Trump’s eleventh-hour talks of executive orders and other meddling are just more unneeded self-involvement,” Berman said. “College athletes are spearheading historic changes and benefitting massively from NIL deals. They don’t need this unmerited interference from a coach only seeking to protect the system that made him tens of millions.”

Berman and others have until Wednesday to address concerns that prevented U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken from granting approval to the deal last month. Berman recently said they are on track to meet the deadline.