By Sam Khan Jr., Chris Vannini and Justin Williams
Plans for a presidential commission exploring issues in college sports are still moving forward, sources familiar with the project told The Athletic.
Comments by former Alabama head coach Nick Saban on Wednesday raised doubts when he seemed to downplay the need for a potential commission during an appearance on ESPN’s “The Paul Finebaum Show.” Reports last week identified Saban as a likely co-chair alongside Texas Tech board chair and booster Cody Campbell for a commission that would be established by President Donald Trump.
“Well first of all, I don’t know a lot about the commission. Secondly, I’m not sure we really need a commission,” Saban said Wednesday. “I think a lot of people know exactly what the issues are in college football and exactly what we need to do to fix them. I think the key to the drill is getting people together so that we can move it forward.”
Last week Nick Saban’s name was floated as co-chair for a President Trump’s potential Commission on College Sports.
Nick Saban today: “I’m not sure we really need a Commission.” pic.twitter.com/dzYi02Pngl
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) May 14, 2025
Saban did go on to talk about the need for putting together a group that addresses the ongoing legal, financial and competitive issues college sports have struggled to navigate in this era of name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation and the transfer portal.
“I think there are a lot of people out there that know how to fix it,” Saban said. “I just think we have to push it forward and get everybody together, and some of it may need to be done on the federal level.”
The commission is not official and still in the preliminary planning stages, according to sources briefed on its progress, but a source told The Athletic last week that Trump is expected to be “very engaged” with the commission and views improving college sports as an issue of national importance. There is no timetable for when the commission might be formalized.
Presidential commissions do not have the power to enact changes, but they can recommend law changes to Congress or new rules for organizations.
Saban, 73, emerged as a central character in this discussion after he met with Trump in Tuscaloosa, Ala., earlier this month, where Trump delivered the commencement speech at the University of Alabama.
“(Trump) said, ‘All my friends are saying college football’s really messed up. Let’s get together so we can figure out how to fix it,’” Saban told Finebaum on Wednesday. “So that’s how this all got started.”
Nick Saban on his recent talks with the White House about a potential commission on college sports.
“I don’t think I should be the tip of the spear…I would just like to help anyone who seeks to fix it.” pic.twitter.com/DNoUS1LMI1
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) May 14, 2025
Campbell, 43, is a former Texas Tech football player and co-founder of the Matador Club, an NIL collective that supports Texas Tech athletics. He’s also the co-founder and co-executive of Double Eagle Energy Holdings, an upstream oil and gas company based out of Fort Worth, Texas.
Saban and Campbell have each been outspoken about their philosophies on a number of topics related to college sports — many of which are aligned, and some that aren’t.
Meanwhile, the House v. NCAA settlement is nearing a decision that will significantly impact the future of college sports. If approved, the $2.8 billion settlement would resolve a trio of antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and power conferences and establish a new model of direct revenue sharing between Division I universities and athletes. College sports leaders continue to lobby Congress regarding national NIL legislation and antitrust exemptions, as well.
“I think the fact that there’s an interest on the executive side on this, I think it speaks to the fact that everybody is paying a lot of attention right now to what’s going on in college sports,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said Monday at ACC meetings in Amelia Island, Fla. “I’m up for anything that can help us get somewhere.”
(Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
