Nick Saban gives opposing stance on President Trump’s commission on college sports
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Quick Summary:
- Former Alabama coach Nick Saban downplays the need for a potential presidential commission on college sports. But he says a solution requires people getting together to push something forward. The potential commission from President Trump has not been announced but is in the planning stages, people briefed on the situation told The Athletic. Saban reiterated many of his previous stances: that marketing NIL deals are good and pay-for-play is a problem, and that there needs to be national NIL rules rather than individual state rules. The NCAA and Power 4 conferences have lobbied Congress for several years, seeking national Nil legislation and antitrust exemptions. Multiple attempts at bills have stalled or failed to get off the ground, but some people around college sports hope a presidential commission will bring more attention and focus on doing something. But there remains no clear timeline on when the potential commission could fully come together, and it’s not clear if it will be announced soon or in the near future at all.
- President Donald Trump has appointed Nick Saban to co-chair his college sports commission. Saban has previously said the current model is unsustainable for college sports, and Trump apparently agreed. Trump has asked aides to begin researching the creation of an executive order to better control the NIL landscape, which Saban has repeatedly attacked both before and after his 2024 retirement. It is too early to know what a Trump executive order would entail, and the NCAA has declined to comment on a potential order. The commission will look into a potential reform of the college football landscape, with Alabama coaching legend Saban at the heart of the discussions. The details of exactly what the commission will do are currently unclear, and it appears that is the case even to Saban, who has now spoken out for the first time. ‘I don’t know a lot about the commission, first of all,’ he told The Paul Finnebaum Show on Wednesday. ‘Secondly, I’m not really sure we need a commission,’ he then brutally added. ‘The first year we had name, image and likeness four, five years ago, we had a $3 million, and everybody was happy. Now they’re looking at $20 million. I mean, where does it end?’ he said.
- President Donald Trump has floated the idea of a commission to look into fixing the current state of college athletics. Saban has voiced his concerns regarding NIL, and has been one of the people whose names have been tied to leading the proposed commission. The former Alabama coach pointed to his meeting with Trump during the President’s commencement speech on May 1 in Tuscaloosa.SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey appeared reluctant to comment on a possible commission, saying “I’m not going to overreact or react to what’s been reported about commissions””I think we need to protect the brand, and the competitive advantages and disadvantages that are being created right now, and I think we can fix all that,” Saban said. “We just have to get everybody together to do it.” “I really don’t want to get into the implementation of what I would do,” he added. “I think the first thing is everybody’s got a different state law, which creates advantages and disadvantageous. So we probably need an interstate commerce-type something that gets it all there” “I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the players to necessarily be employees,” he said of the current system. “Maybe we could just gather
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Original Coverage
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban downplays the need for a potential presidential commission on college sports. But he says a solution requires people getting together to push something forward. The potential commission from President Trump has not been announced but is in the planning stages, people briefed on the situation told The Athletic. Saban reiterated many of his previous stances: that marketing NIL deals are good and pay-for-play is a problem, and that there needs to be national NIL rules rather than individual state rules. The NCAA and Power 4 conferences have lobbied Congress for several years, seeking national Nil legislation and antitrust exemptions. Multiple attempts at bills have stalled or failed to get off the ground, but some people around college sports hope a presidential commission will bring more attention and focus on doing something. But there remains no clear timeline on when the potential commission could fully come together, and it’s not clear if it will be announced soon or in the near future at all. Read full article
College football icon Nick Saban takes brutal swipe at Donald Trump after being chosen to chair NIL commission
President Donald Trump has appointed Nick Saban to co-chair his college sports commission. Saban has previously said the current model is unsustainable for college sports, and Trump apparently agreed. Trump has asked aides to begin researching the creation of an executive order to better control the NIL landscape, which Saban has repeatedly attacked both before and after his 2024 retirement. It is too early to know what a Trump executive order would entail, and the NCAA has declined to comment on a potential order. The commission will look into a potential reform of the college football landscape, with Alabama coaching legend Saban at the heart of the discussions. The details of exactly what the commission will do are currently unclear, and it appears that is the case even to Saban, who has now spoken out for the first time. ‘I don’t know a lot about the commission, first of all,’ he told The Paul Finnebaum Show on Wednesday. ‘Secondly, I’m not really sure we need a commission,’ he then brutally added. ‘The first year we had name, image and likeness four, five years ago, we had a $3 million, and everybody was happy. Now they’re looking at $20 million. I mean, where does it end?’ he said. Read full article
Nick Saban Pushes Back On Idea Of Presidential Commission To Fix College Sports
President Donald Trump has floated the idea of a commission to look into fixing the current state of college athletics. Saban has voiced his concerns regarding NIL, and has been one of the people whose names have been tied to leading the proposed commission. The former Alabama coach pointed to his meeting with Trump during the President’s commencement speech on May 1 in Tuscaloosa.SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey appeared reluctant to comment on a possible commission, saying “I’m not going to overreact or react to what’s been reported about commissions””I think we need to protect the brand, and the competitive advantages and disadvantages that are being created right now, and I think we can fix all that,” Saban said. “We just have to get everybody together to do it.” “I really don’t want to get into the implementation of what I would do,” he added. “I think the first thing is everybody’s got a different state law, which creates advantages and disadvantageous. So we probably need an interstate commerce-type something that gets it all there” “I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the players to necessarily be employees,” he said of the current system. “Maybe we could just gather Read full article
‘I don’t really know’: Nick Saban discusses reported presidential commission on college athletics
The White House is considering a commission to look at college athletics. The commission is expected to be led by former Texas head coach Cody Campbell. Alabama head coach Nick Saban says he doesn’t know much about the commission. “I just think we’ve got to figure out who’s got the will to do it,” he says. “It’s a very complex issue. It’s not something that can be done off the cuff,” he adds. “We’re going to have to work on it.” “I’m always going to be committed to helping my players,” Saban says. ‘I’m not going to back down. I’m going to continue to do what I can to help them’ Read full article
What Nick Saban said about President Donald Trump’s commission on college sports
President Donald Trump’s commission on college athletics will explore potential reform. Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban will co-chair the commission. “I don’t really know much about this commission,” Saban said. “If there’s something I can do to help college football be better, I’m always going to be committed to do that” “I think we know what needs to be done, I just think we’ve got to figure out who’s got the will to do it,” he added. “It’s probably good not to talk about it off the cuff.” “I’ll find out more about it, and if there’s anything I canDo to Help College Football Be Better, I’ll do that,” he said. ‘I’m going to do what I can to help the game of college football,’ Saban added. ‘It’s going to take a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to it’ Read full article
Rodriguez pitches himself for Trump’s college sports commission with Saban
Rodriguez called Saban the greatest of all time and said no one has a better understanding of the game or the bigger picture in college football. Trump’s idea for a college sports commission was first reported by Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Saban acknowledged the idea but said more details are needed before taking a stance. The former president plans to be “very engaged,” viewing the issue as nationally significant, according to The Athletic. The commission is expected to be formed in the coming months and could take up to six months to form. The first meeting is scheduled to take place in New York City on September 26. The second meeting is expected in Washington on September 27. The third and final meeting will be in Washington, D.C. on September 28. The fourth and final meet will be held in New Orleans on September 29. The final meeting is in Atlanta on September 30. The fifth and final one is in Los Angeles on September 31. The sixth and final game is in San Diego on October 2. The last one is at home on October 4. The seventh and final is in New Jersey on October 5. Read full article
Nick Saban’s Radical College Football Plan Emerges Amid Head of Presidential Commission For College Sports Rumors
Rumors suggest Nick Saban is set to co-chair a presidential commission on college sports reform. Saban’s emergence as a potential architect of reform has sent shockwaves through the NCAA. His vision for a dramatically restructured college football model could fundamentally alter the sport as we know it. Saban has been vocal about creating a sustainable structure that preserves what he sees as college football’s core identity while adapting to modern realities. The commission is expected to address pressing challenges, including NIL payments, transfer portal policies, booster involvement, and conference realignment. The proposal would likely include established powers from the SEC and Big Ten, with limited spots available for programs from other conferences. This structure would create regular high-profile matchups between football’’s biggest brands while potentially providing more consistent national exposure. The plan calls for consolidation of top football brands into what would effectively be a super league of the sport’s most valuable programs. It would also create an elite tier of college football programs operating under an NFL-inspired framework. This proposal represents the most significant restructuring proposal in college football”s history, one that could reshape the collegiate landscape for decades to come.“If this was to happen, this thing, there would be no better Read full article
NCAA boss welcomes Trump panel on college sports: ‘Anything that helps us’
President Donald Trump is creating a presidential commission on college sports led by former Alabama coach Nick Saban and Texas Tech regent/megabooster Cody Campbell. The NCAA is looking for a federal law that supersedes multiple state laws. Baker also said he hoped the latest modifications to the House settlement would allow the case to be concluded so the NCAA could move forward. “I’m up for anything that helps us get somewhere,” said Baker, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts.“We’ve won more than we’re lost, but (the lawsuits) just create such uncertainty for schools, student-athletes, everybody, about how this is all supposed to work,’ said Baker. ‘I do think it’s quite clear at this point that a lot of people who are interested in college sports do need to help at some point to create some clarity of some of these issues in Washington. Creating one lawsuit at a time is just a really bad way to try to move forward,“ Baker said. � “There is a lot going on, that’s not all bad, and I’m up for any help that can move the needle.” “ Read full article
Questions and answers re: President Trump’s College Sports Commission
President Trump is reportedly launching a college sports commission. The commission will be led by former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Texas billionaire and Texas Tech Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell. The timing of this particular announcement is a bit of a surprise, since the NCAA, Power Conferences, Coaches Associations and other college sports industry trade groups have focused their efforts on lobbying Congress far more than the White House. But with legislative efforts still failing to produce a bill with a snowball’s chance of actually getting passed, even with Republican control of the House and Senate, maybe the president thought a little pressure from his corner would do some good. A truly sustainable solution will pre-empt the possible amendment of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to allow the business side of college sports to operate effectively. The law is also worth highlighting that would also need to be changed if college sports is ever to follow the NFL’S broadcast practices. And finally, a quick word from one of today’s sponsors:700k+ men are using this to age like fine wine. The 6-in-1 product helps reduce eye bags, dark spots, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read full article
Tommy Tuberville Says NIL In Dire Need Of Restructuring, As Donald Trump Looks To Help Fix College Athletics
Senator Tommy Tuberville says he’s been working on the issue of NIL for four years. He believes that a federal commission would be the best way to fix the problem. Tubervile says that Nick Saban and Cody Campbell are expected to be the co-chairs of the commission study. The chances of having a bill signed is still 50-50 at best, given that there are certainly more important things to worry about right now, such as the House settlement with Claudia Wilken. But, that hasn’t stoppedTuberville from maintaining that this is the best. way to get rules passed that will help alleviate some of the pressure on the NCAA, who are fighting for more protection from antitrust lawsuits stemming from differing perspectives on the current rules in place. It’s hard to do that. While Tuverville wants everyone working on a level playing field, that’s just not reality. It will be a task on its own to get both sides of the aisle to agree on something like this, especially if the commission group advocates to take money off the table from athletes, in the form of Nil. It is a problem that the NCAA actually started when NIL was first introduced some five years ago. It needs to be Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Sources:
- Original Article
- College football icon Nick Saban takes brutal swipe at Donald Trump after being chosen to chair NIL commission
- Nick Saban Pushes Back On Idea Of Presidential Commission To Fix College Sports
- ‘I don’t really know’: Nick Saban discusses reported presidential commission on college athletics
- What Nick Saban said about President Donald Trump’s commission on college sports
- Rodriguez pitches himself for Trump’s college sports commission with Saban
- Nick Saban’s Radical College Football Plan Emerges Amid Head of Presidential Commission For College Sports Rumors
- NCAA boss welcomes Trump panel on college sports: ‘Anything that helps us’
- Questions and answers re: President Trump’s College Sports Commission
- Tommy Tuberville Says NIL In Dire Need Of Restructuring, As Donald Trump Looks To Help Fix College Athletics
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6357016/2025/05/14/nick-saban-president-trump-commission/