High-profile gathering of coaches, league commissioners and executives aims to chart a path for college sports amid NIL and transfer-portal upheaval
President
Donald Trump is hosting a high-level roundtable at the White House bringing together some of the most influential figures in American sports to discuss the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics.
The meeting, known as the “College Sports Roundtable,” is expected to draw more than thirty prominent participants from across the worlds of college sports, professional leagues, universities and government.
The session is designed to examine challenges facing collegiate athletics and explore potential reforms as the industry navigates a period of sweeping transformation.
Trump will chair the discussion, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees president Randy Levine serving as vice chairs.
Administration officials describe the forum as part of a broader effort by the president to stabilize college athletics and protect the future of university sports programs across the United States.
Among the most prominent invitees are legendary college football coach Nick Saban, National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver, and NCAA president Charlie Baker.
The guest list also includes Texas Tech regent and businessman Cody Campbell, former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, and a range of athletic administrators, university leaders and sports executives.
Conference leadership from the major Power Four leagues—the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference—has also been invited.
Commissioners Tony Petitti, Greg Sankey, Brett Yormark and Jim Phillips are expected to join the discussion alongside several university presidents and athletic directors.
Other notable names reported on invitation lists include golf champions Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and senior university officials such as Tennessee system chancellor Donde Plowman and Georgia president Jere Morehead.
The event is designed to assemble leaders who influence both the business and governance of college sports.
The roundtable comes at a moment of major upheaval in the collegiate athletics system.
The expansion of name, image and likeness compensation for student-athletes, the rise of the transfer portal and ongoing antitrust litigation have transformed the economics and structure of college sports.
Trump has previously signaled a willingness to use federal policy to support reforms, including an executive order aimed at protecting opportunities for student-athletes and preserving women’s sports programs.
The White House sees the roundtable as an opportunity to gather ideas from across the sports world and build consensus around long-term solutions.
Participants are expected to discuss potential national standards for athlete compensation, the impact of revenue sharing with players, and ways to maintain competitive balance across college programs while safeguarding scholarship opportunities.
While it remains uncertain what specific policies may emerge from the meeting, organizers say the gathering represents one of the most significant federal efforts yet to bring together leaders from across the fragmented college sports ecosystem.
With billions of dollars and the future structure of collegiate athletics at stake, the outcome of the discussions is expected to be closely watched across the sports industry.