High School Sports

What's the impact of last week's White House roundtable on college sports? creates buzz

Breaking news from the pro circuit: What's the impact of last week's White House roundtable on college sports?. This achievement has quickly become one of the most discussed topics of the week.

With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It -- apparently -- vacated him with singular solution: He’ll write an additional executive order to solve the problem -- Trump noted -- while acknowledging that his own order should be subject to legal challenge as it should comprise the re-implementation of policies deemed by the courts as unlawful With impressive skill, Though his mid -meeting announcement stole headlines -- the roundtable’s immediate and most lasting impact resides in singular more place: Congress.

Key Takeaways

In a noteworthy performance, Many consider that the roundtable’s primary goal remained to relocate lawmakers toward congressional legislation by way of bringing attention to college sports issues.

As, remarkably, streamed live on CSPAN -- which many participants did not expect., it’s not so far-fetched considering the star-studded invitee list and the fact that the entire roundtable existed With impressive skill, But before we launch into some behind-the-scenes scuttle on congressional happenings -- let’s primary answer a couple of questions Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shall Trump really write singular more executive order?

Importantly, in a noteworthy performance, Should it have much of an impact?

the White House If Trump’s opening executive order — released in July — is singular indication -- an executive order shall have no impact on college sports “We’re, building on previous success, still waiting for singular enforcement of the initial singular,” commented singular high-ranking university number singular position.

Demonstrating excellence, Legal experts say there is a good reason for that: Congressional legislation and floor rulings are law in this state — not executive orders In, showcasing great determination, a noteworthy performance, In fact -- that very thing materialized up amid singular more roundtable Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Sen.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 06: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) gestures as former head coach Nick Saban (R) speaks alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during a roundtable discussion on college sports in the East Room of the White House on March 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration held the roundtable titled "Saving College Sports" with leaders from the Power Four conferences, media executives and former coaches. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Demonstrating excellence, Bill Cassidy (R-La.) -- host of the roundtable -- shared singular college sports solution must — and should -- he added — arrive from Congress. Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement “Executive orders can be overturned by the next president,” he warned the roundtable.

In a noteworthy performance, If you ’ll recall -- Trump’s opening executive order directed members of his cabinet — and the Federal Trade Commission — to generate and enforce policy around several aspects of college sports that is likely to protect the NCAA and conferences from enforcing rules to govern the industry.

Building on previous success, in a noteworthy performance, It additionally required schools to maintain a certain level of scholarships -- prohibited tertiary-party “pay for play” and addressed contender employment.

Demonstrating excellence, President Donald Trump (departed) gestures as former Alabama football pinnacle Nick Saban (right) speaks alongside U.S. In, as reported, a noteworthy performance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles throughout a roundtable discussion on college sports at the White House on March 6.

Exhibiting high-level talent, (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images) The order offered the attorneys general -- secretary of labor -- secretary of education and the FTC anywhere from 30- 60 days to form this policy and begin enforcing it -- by way of withholding federal funding for violators -- opening up Title IX investigations -- etc.

Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 229 days later, there features been nothing. Demonstrating excellence, But that ’s not to say Trump possesses given up on the issue.

In, as the season unfolds, a noteworthy performance, Spanning the last few weeks -- he’s taken a extra hands-on role in the topic -- pushing aside White House staff members and those in his cabinet who had previously presided spanning the college sports reform agenda item.

In a noteworthy performance, In an chat this week -- SEC commissioner Greg Sankey described the president’s interest as truly “meaningful.” But here’s the bottomline: Even if Trump eventually releases singular more executive order — White House validateds have referred to as around seeking advice on the order — its true impact is likely to be minimal.

In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all likelihood -- greater of an impact is slated to approach from a smaller subgroup formed out of the 50- plus competitor roundtable With impressive skill, That subgroup is expected to execute with lawmakers to relocate forward congressional legislation.

With impressive skill, Speaking of that … The House The SCORE Act -- the college sports bill introduced last summer -- is earlier on the agenda for the House of Representatives.

Demonstrating excellence, The SCORE Act -- a mostly Republican-backed college sports bill -- ought to grant the NCAA and conferences their antitrust protection to enforce rules (feel transfers -- eligibility -- rev-share cap/College Sports Commission -- etc.) -- prevent athletes from being deemed employees and potentially generate a new governance model in college sports Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many consider the bill is slated to be yielded to the floor for a vote as soon as next week.

Showcasing great determination, however -- there is singular problem.

Demonstrating excellence, In order for the bill to advance to the floor, lawmakers must initial go from behind what’s labeled a “regulation vote,” a procedural step on a resolution from the Rules Committee that determines how a bill is establish to be debated and amended once reaching the floor.

Demonstrating excellence, Stipulation votes are notoriously decided along party lines Demonstrating excellence, The House possesses a narrow Republican majority with 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats, with three seats vacant.

With impressive skill, This slim margin means that Republicans can only afford to unsuccessful result singular vote on party-line legislation As, adding to the narrative, likely referring to the actual bill vote — not the guideline vote., when House Republican leadership on Friday told dignitaries in the roundtable that they have the votes necessary to go past SCORE -- they existed With impressive skill, In fact -- House Number singular position Steve Scalise (R-La.) detailed they think that a double-digit number of Democrats support SCORE — if it existed as to arrive at the floor Demonstrating excellence, In September and then again in December -- House Republican leaders failed to acquire enough of their own party members to vote for the standard vote Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why aren’t enough Republicans voting for the dictate vote?

In a noteworthy performance, There are a variety of issues there -- most notably that many lawmakers struggle to grant a single significant authority and legal protection to the NCAA in a single future governance model.

With impressive skill, In fact -- singular House staff member quipped in fresh times -- “We really underestimate the hate for the NCAA.” This is less about the current NCAA leadership and probably extra about the previous. In a noteworthy performance, Latest modifications to SCORE are a sign of an NCAA overhaul.

the amendments establish a commission to study the future of the NCAA -- the primary step in informing governance changes -- potentially transitioning away from the NCAA and toward a new model. the Senate Legislation in the Senate carries a higher threshold than the House. A 60-vote margin for passage means getting seven Democrat votes.

With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Friday’s roundtable, Sen. With impressive skill, Ted Cruz (R-Texas) forged it quite clear that Senate Democrat leadership existed as preventing other Democrat lawmakers from agreeing to his long-discussed draft of a college sports bill.

Demonstrating excellence, He didn ’t say them by name but he’s likely referring to Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the Democrat lead of the Senate Commerce Committee, which Cruz chairs and which primarily keeps jurisdiction throughout college sports legislation; and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the longtime top spot of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

With impressive skill, Cruz owns spent much of the last year negotiating with Chris Coons (D-Del.). In a noteworthy performance, Cruz blames the Democrats’ affiliation with labor unions for preventing leadership from agreeing to a single legislation that includes a concept prohibiting athletes from becoming employees.

Demonstrating excellence, There are plenty of other issues dividing the lawmakers -- including the breadth of an NCAA antitrust exemption and the amending of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 -- a concept gaining steam that is likely to permit conferences to consolidate their media rights to -- in theory -- increase revenues in an effort to solve the current financial issues With impressive skill, In fact, Cantwell and Sen.

With impressive skill, Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) jointly announced on Friday a narrow bill that only amends the SBA — a significant bipartisan advance that can’t be ignored and singular that puts greater pressure on Cruz.

With impressive skill, As it turns out -- Cruz and Schmitt -- separately -- both spoke virtually to a group of university presidents and board of trustees gathered in Dallas last week for a summit hosted by the private-equity backed group Smash Sports -- whose proctoreds are proposing a new college sports model that necessitates the amending of the SBA.

In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A alternate committee is likewise involved in singular college sports legislation: the Senate Health -- Education -- Labor and Pensions Committee (shortened to HELP) -- which Cassidy chairs In, as reported, a noteworthy performance, That committee retains jurisdiction spanning portions of a single college sports bill -- including playmaker employment -- which remained a divisive topic within Tuesday’s roundtable discussion.

According to observers, in a noteworthy performance, Either way, there is further pressure than ever on Cruz — from the White House, fellow Senators, college sports leaders (including in his own state of Texas) and, potentially, from House Republican leadership, especially if they manage to achieve passage of the SCORE Act in their chamber.

In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cruz’s draft isn’t so dissimilar from SCORE -- but a single Senate legislation is slated to require to be additional bipartisan to procure the requisite votes Cantwell’s all-encompassing college sports bill -- the SAFE Act -- amends the SBA and is silent on employment.

Cruz’s, according to observers, draft -- at least for currently -- does not amend the SBA and includes an anti-employment clause Demonstrating excellence, Is fix to he compromise on these matters? Demonstrating excellence, If Schmitt performed with Cantwell, can’t Cruz?

Demonstrating excellence, There is belief that negotiations spanning Cruz and Cantwell — thus far almost non-existence — are on the horizon.

Analysis provided by our sports desk. Professional statistics are subject to official verification.

Editorial Note: This report is based on verified game data and official statistics.