🏅The college sports executive order is here. What does it say?

Hey everyone,

In today’s newsletter, we’ve got updates on the college sports executive order, plus Unrivaled’s new NIL deals and more! Keep reading for even more news from around the NIL world.

— Joan

The Big 3

Executive order signals Trump administration is ready to intervene in college sports

On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Saving College Sports.” Drafts of the order had been circulating for a week, and its signing came as no surprise.

In the order, the administration seeks to empower federal agencies to institute guardrails to “ensure a reasonable, balanced use of resources across collegiate athletic programs that preserves their educational and developmental benefits.”

The order also includes language about reining in NIL deals, and it instructs some of the largest athletic departments in college sports to maintain scholarship numbers for women's and Olympic sports. It instructs the Department of Education to act in an enforcement role.

Reactions to the order varied, and many college sports leaders alluded to Congressional actions and the SCORE Act in response to Trump’s order. "The [NCAA] appreciates the Trump Administration's focus on the life-changing opportunities college sports provides to millions of young people and we look forward to working with student-athletes, a bipartisan coalition in Congress and the Trump Administration to enhance college sports for years to come," NCAA president Charlie Baker wrote in a statement.

Commissioners of the Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and SEC released a joint statement. “We appreciate President Trump’s commitment to protecting the future of college athletics,” they wrote. “This executive order builds on the momentum created by the bipartisan SCORE Act, which will provide long-term stability to college sports and expand resources to support the overall well-being of student-athletes.”

Unrivaled signs 14 women’s college hoopers to NIL deals

The 3-on-3 league, founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Brianna Stewart, is massively expanding the NIL deals it’s offering to up-and-coming players. The 2025 “Future of Unrivaled” NIL class is headlined by USC’s Juju Watkins, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and UConn’s Azzi Fudd. Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, UConn’s Sarah Strong, Texas’s Madison Booker, Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, TCU’s Olivia Miles, South Carolina’s Ta'Niya Latson, Michigan’s Syla Swords and UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts and Kiki Rice round out the class.

None of the 14 players will compete in Unrivaled’s upcoming season, which is scheduled to tip off in January, but they’ll be involved in marketing the league. For its inaugural season in early 2025, Unrivaled inked NIL deals with Johnson and Paige Bueckers, and Watkins is already an investor in the league.

Star Alabama WR signs Nike deal

Ryan Williams, who put up huge numbers last season as a freshman for the Crimson Tide, signed an NIL deal with Nike — making him the second college athlete to ink a deal with the athleticwear giant. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders was the first.

NIL BLITZ

♦️ In a letter urging Congress not to pass the SCORE Act, five state attorneys general called the NCAA a “cartel.”

♦️ Speaking of the SCORE Act, it cleared another hurdle this week.

♦️ Steve Sarkisian compared coaches’ freedom to move between jobs to players’ — and pointed out that players have it easier.

♦️ A Nevada wide receiver won his eligibility dispute.

♦️ The Bryan-College Station Eagle went deep on the NIL money Texas A&M athletes brought in last year.

♦️ Next season could be the “money-dump year” in college basketball.

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

Does the government need to intervene more in college sports?

• Yes - 37%

• No - 63%