In a major move set to reshape the future of college athletics, former Alabama football coach Nick Saban has been appointed co-chair of a new presidential commission on college sports, created by President Donald Trump. Joining Saban is Texas Tech Board of Regents Chairman and oil tycoon Cody Campbell, who also helped launch the Matador Club, a major NIL collective.
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The commission will focus on some of the most pressing and controversial issues in college athletics today: the transfer portal, athlete compensation, booster involvement in NIL deals, Title IX compliance, and the preservation of Olympic sports. Saban has long voiced concerns about the chaotic state of NIL and athlete movement, stressing the need for reform that allows players to benefit financially without turning them into employees. Campbell, despite his involvement with NIL, has also warned against an imbalance in the collegiate model that could undermine smaller sports and schools.
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This comes on the heels of the House v. NCAA settlement, which allows schools to pay athletes up to $20.5 million annually without granting them employee status. President Trump is reportedly considering an executive order that would regulate NIL payments and bring more structure to the current system.
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The creation of this commission reflects rising political interest and urgency in stabilizing and reforming the college sports landscape nationwide.
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