College sports have been going through big changes over the past few years, especially when it comes to how athletes can make money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
Recently, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order that could reshape the way student-athletes are paid and protected. Here’s what it means for college athletes.
In the past couple of years, many athletes were getting huge payments from groups tied to schools called boosters (wealthy fans or donors who support teams) or collectives (organizations created by boosters that pool money together to pay athletes).
These groups sometimes offered athletes large sums of money just for choosing a certain college. The new order says those kinds of “pay-for-play” deals are not allowed anymore.
Athletes can still make money through sponsorships, social media posts, autograph signings, or real business deals, but not just for joining a team.
One of the biggest unanswered questions in college sports is whether athletes should count as employees. If they are employees, they could earn a salary, health benefits, or even union rights.
The new order doesn’t decide this right away, but it tells federal agencies to figure it out soon. For athletes, this could mean big changes in the future, either more protection or more responsibility, like paying taxes differently.
Not every sport makes money for colleges. Football and basketball bring in the most revenue, but many other sports, like soccer, track, swimming, and volleyball, don’t.
The new order requires schools, especially big-money programs, to keep supporting women’s teams and smaller sports.
That means more scholarships and roster spots should stay safe, instead of being cut to make room for bigger programs.
For athletes, this order will likely mean more rules about how NIL contracts work. Deals must now be at “fair market value,” which means no more inflated offers just to get players to transfer or commit. While this may cut back on some quick money, it also helps protect athletes from shady contracts and unfair treatment.
This executive order brings more structure to the fast-changing NIL world. Student-athletes can still make money, but in more traditional ways, like endorsements.
Smaller sports get protection, and the government is finally stepping in to decide whether athletes should be treated like employees. The end goal is long-term stability for both athletes and the colleges they represent.
Fair Pay or Play?
