President Donald J. Trump is stepping back into the sports spotlight, this time as a central figure in shaping the future of college athletics. On March 6, the White House is expected to host a high-profile roundtable bringing together leaders from across the sports landscape to address some of the most pressing issues facing collegiate competition.
According to multiple reports, Trump will chair the discussion, with Ron DeSantis and Randy Levine serving as vice chairs. The meeting is set to include commissioners from the “Power 4” conferences, along with an influential group of sports executives, former coaches, athletes, and university leaders.
Among the notable invitees is golf icon Tiger Woods, joined by legendary former college football coaches Nick Saban, Mack Brown, and Urban Meyer. The gathering will also feature Condoleezza Rice, a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee, alongside key figures from professional sports and media.
NFL representation includes Jonathan Kraft of the New England Patriots, while the NBA will be represented by commissioner Adam Silver. Media power brokers such as Eric Shanks and Jimmy Pitaro are also expected to attend, underscoring the financial and broadcast stakes tied to college sports’ future.
The invitation list extends to prominent college administrators, including Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, as well as former standout athletes like Tim Tebow and Charlie Ward. University presidents and chancellors are also expected to participate, reflecting the wide-ranging impact of ongoing changes across collegiate athletics.
Notably absent from the group are active head coaches, a decision that may influence the tone and direction of the discussions.
Also expected to attend is Texas Tech board chairman and businessman Cody Campbell, who has been spearheading a “Saving College Sports” initiative and has spent more than a year helping organize conversations around reform.
At the heart of the meeting are issues that have challenged the NCAA for years—most notably, the evolving landscape of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and the broader question of athlete compensation and employment status. Despite ongoing lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and increasing political involvement, comprehensive federal legislation has yet to advance to a vote.
While the summit brings together an unprecedented mix of voices, some attendees have privately questioned how much can realistically be accomplished in a single afternoon session, particularly given the diverse perspectives represented.
Still, Trump’s involvement signals a renewed intersection of politics and sports at a critical juncture. With college athletics facing structural changes that could redefine its future, the White House roundtable may serve as a launching point for more formal policy discussions—or simply highlight the complexity of reaching consensus in a rapidly evolving system.
