President Trump signed an executive order to restore “order, fairness, and stability” to college athletics in the United States.
“The Order directs Federal agencies to bolster the effectiveness of key college-sports rules on transferring, eligibility, and pay-for-play by evaluating whether violations of such rules render a university unfit for Federal grants and contracts,” the order read.
“Simultaneously, the Order calls on the appropriate governing body to update these rules to restore financial stability and protect the future of all college sports,” it continued.
“President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday designed to limit how long athletes can play college sports and how often they can transfer between schools,” ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter wrote.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday designed to limit how long athletes can play college sports and how often they can transfer between schools.
More via ESPN’s Dan Murphy:https://t.co/DUaa0Cw6eR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2026
ESPN explained further:
The order directs the NCAA to create rules that mandate college athletes can play for “no more than a five-year period” and allows them to transfer schools only once before they graduate without having to sit out a season. The rule changes are scheduled to go into effect Aug. 1. A school that plays an athlete who doesn’t meet these new limits could risk losing its federal funding.
The order also states that the NCAA should update its rules to create a national registry for player agents and create policies that prevent schools from cutting scholarships or other opportunities for women’s and Olympic sports in order to pay their athletes.
“College sports cannot function without clear, agreed-upon rules concerning pay-for-play and player eligibility that can’t be endlessly challenged in court, as is the case now,” the White House said in a news release about the order.
Multiple lawyers who work with colleges and their athletes told ESPN they believe that judges would rule the president’s order to be unconstitutional and unenforceable if challenged in court.
NCAA president Charlie Baker said during a media availability in Phoenix before the Women’s Final Four that he had not read the entire executive order yet, but from what he saw on social media, “there’s a bunch of things in there that are pretty consistent with the things we’ve been talking to them and to Congress about.”
“The resulting chaos is creating financial pressures that threaten to drain resources from all sports except football and basketball, and from many universities altogether,” the order read.
“While Congress is strongly encouraged to expeditiously pass legislation, further delay is not an option given what is at stake and the turmoil and instability currently facing universities across the nation,” it continued.
“Common sense & solid,” OutKick founder Clay Travis commented.
President Trump’s executive order on college sports is below. Three key provisions: 1. Five years of total eligibility 2. Only “one” free transfer without sitting. 3. No players can return from pros. Goes into effect on 8/1. Common sense & solid: https://t.co/wWmosuirVz
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 3, 2026
Fox News has more:
The conferences struck a consistent tone of appreciation for federal involvement, coupled with a renewed call for Congress to establish national standards governing college athletics, particularly with respect to athlete compensation, employment status and name, image and likeness (NIL) rules.
Big 10 Commissioner Tony Petitti wrote, “The Big Ten Conference would like to thank President Trump for his leadership and continuing efforts to protect college athletics and joins him in urging Congress to quickly pass legislation addressing the critical issues undermining its long-term stability.
“Consistent with President Trump’s executive order, the bipartisan SCORE Act thoughtfully addresses name, image, and likeness for student-athletes, protecting academic and athletic opportunities provided through women’s and Olympic sports programs, and expands resources to support student-athletes on and off the field.
“We will continue to work with a broad coalition of college sports stakeholders and members of Congress to enact this legislation.”
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey wrote, “The establishment and enforcement of consistent national standards for college athletics remains a top priority, and President Trump’s executive order provides important clarity to help ensure all programs operate under comparable policies.
“We are grateful for the President’s leadership and the continued, bipartisan engagement of members of the House and Senate on these key issues.
“We support House of Representatives approval of the SCORE Act and meaningful Senate consideration of similar legislation to preserve academic opportunity for student-athletes and the long-term future of college sports.”