The House and Senate could be headed toward a showdown over competing bills that would usher in major changes to college sports, but President Donald Trump has yet to make clear just what he would sign.
The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday morning is slated to hear from expert witnesses as both chambers push differing versions of legislation to shake up college athletics’ “name, image and likeness” policies, as well as its controversial transfer portal.
As Congress worked on the bills in recent months, Trump has largely limited his public comments to criticism of court decisions that paved the way for the NIL era and references to New York Yankees President Randy Levine, who is on Trump’s hand-picked college sports commission, as “working to straighten out college sports now.”
One lobbyist who represents several collegiate conferences, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said stakeholders have been monitoring that commission, as it has successfully been “drumming up interest” and “having meetings on and off the Hill.”
“I think the White House knows it’s going to take legislation at this point. An executive order wouldn’t have as much impact,” the lobbyist said.
