President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that aims to change how college sports operate. This new order sets limits on how long athletes can play college sports and how often they can transfer schools. Under this order, athletes can play for a maximum of five seasons within a five-year period. They are also allowed to transfer schools only once before they graduate without sitting out for a season. Universities that don’t follow these rules could risk losing federal funding.
Many legal experts who work with colleges believe this order might not hold up in court if it’s challenged. They think judges could rule it unconstitutional. Trump’s previous attempts to influence college sports through federal funding have had mixed outcomes. For instance, a federal judge blocked the administration from withholding funds from Harvard over a different executive order related to campus behavior.
Trump has been vocal about wanting to find balance in college sports. In March, he met with college sports leaders to discuss how the federal government could restore power to the NCAA and individual schools. He promised to create an executive order that would solve the problems discussed.
Since a Supreme Court ruling in 2021, the NCAA has faced challenges enforcing its rules, as the court made it clear that the organization is not exempt from antitrust laws. This ruling led to changes allowing athletes to transfer more freely and increasing lawsuits from athletes seeking to continue playing after their eligibility ended.
Experts note that this new executive order is the second attempt by Trump to make significant changes in college sports. The first order, signed in July 2025, didn’t have much effect. Stakeholders in college sports hope this latest order sends a strong message to Congress, which has yet to pass any legislation related to college sports despite ongoing discussions.
In Congress, there’s activity around new legislation. The House of Representatives has delayed votes on the SCORE Act, an important piece of legislation related to college sports, while the Senate sees bipartisan discussions led by Republicans and Democrats to find common ground.
Despite this movement, many of the bigger issues in college athletics remain unresolved, especially discussions around athlete employment and how universities share television revenue. This complexity continues to be a significant hurdle in creating lasting reforms in college sports.
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