University President Ellen Granberg is part of a key advisory group for a roundtable led by President Donald Trump. This group focuses on reforming college athletics, particularly in regulating how student-athletes make money from their names, images, and likenesses (NIL).
In March, Trump hosted the “Saving College Sports” roundtable at the White House. The aim? To push for reforms like regulating athlete compensation and clarifying NCAA eligibility rules. Granberg was invited by Randy Levine, the president of the New York Yankees and a George Washington University (GW) alum.
Granberg’s role is crucial for mid-major universities like GW, which often face challenges that larger institutions don’t. Her involvement ensures that their voices are heard in discussions about the future of college sports.
The advisory group has only met once so far, focusing solely on bipartisan reforms. Granberg’s participation is clear — she wants to help navigate the legal and financial challenges facing college athletics today. Recently, she joined other roundtable members in sending a letter to Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell. They advocated for the passage of the “Protect College Sports Act,” which aims to set clear guidelines for college athletics.
This new legislation would allow athletes one unrestricted transfer, cap eligibility at five years, and regulate NIL deals. It also proposes to maintain some antitrust protections for the NCAA. This shift comes after previous legislation lost support for not considering the impacts on minority athletes.
The landscape of college athletics is changing rapidly. The NIL market is projected to grow from $1.17 billion in 2024 to $2.55 billion in 2026. Meanwhile, schools can now directly pay athletes, creating fierce competition for talent. Mid-major programs like GW are particularly vulnerable, as they struggle to compete with wealthier teams that attract high-profile athletes with lucrative NIL deals.
GW is proactive in this new environment. They’ve adopted initiatives allowing student-athletes to earn money through NIL, like “Friends of George,” a fund where alumni pool resources. Their “GDUB Exchange” registry helps student-athletes connect with brands and donors.
The challenges for mid-major programs are significant. Limited exposure and financial resources make it tough to retain standout athletes who can easily transfer to power-conference teams. This ongoing trend raises concerns about the future of these programs in the competitive landscape of college sports.
As reforms in college athletics continue to evolve, the discussions around them are more critical than ever. The engagement of leaders like Granberg signals that change is on the horizon, but significant hurdles remain, particularly for mid-major schools.
For more information on these developments, you can explore NCAA’s approved NIL reforms and the dynamics of the emerging NIL market.
