The planned presidential commission on college athletics has reportedly been put on pause.
The move comes just a week after former Alabama football coach Nick Saban, who was reportedly selected to be the commission co-chair with Texas Tech billionaire booster Cody Campbell, downplayed the need for such a commission.
“To be honest with you, I don’t really know much about this commission. I don’t really know what this commission would do," Saban told reporters. “You know, 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."
According to On3, President Donald Trump will eventually form the commission to reform name, image and likeness (NIL), but the president wants to wait until after U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pushes through his federal legislation. Cruz has pushed for change in the NIL world, likening it to the "Wild, Wild West.
“Donald Trump’s presidential commission on college sports has been paused,” On3's Pete Nakos posted on X. “Expectation is commission will eventually be formed, but is being delayed as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz works to push through federal legislation.”
Nakos added that Cruz led the pause.
Saban left Alabama's head coaching position in January 2024. He later cited the landscape of college football with NIL, the transfer portal and other aspects for retiring.
The legendary coach reportedly told Trump that he believed that the flood of money had damaged college sports.
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