Trump Focuses on College Sports Amid Iran Tensions

President says college athlete pay is a tougher issue than the Iran conflict

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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President Donald Trump convened a roundtable discussion on college sports, arguing that regulating college athlete pay and other NCAA changes have 'wrecked college athletics.' Trump said these issues are 'easy' compared to the ongoing tensions with Iran, where the U.S. and Israel recently launched strikes. The president listened as coaches, administrators, and other experts expressed concerns about the impact of name, image and likeness rules and the transfer portal on college sports. Trump suggested drafting an executive order on college sports if Congress does not pass legislation like the SCORE Act.

Why it matters

Trump's focus on college sports amid major foreign policy challenges like the Iran conflict raised eyebrows, as presidents are typically expected to juggle multiple complex issues simultaneously. The discussion highlighted Trump's longstanding concerns about changes to NCAA rules that have allowed college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness.

The details

Trump convened a roundtable that included former Alabama football coach Nick Saban, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, and other experts. They argued that big paydays for star athletes and the transfer portal have damaged college athletics. Trump suggested drafting an executive order on college sports if Congress does not pass legislation like the SCORE Act, which aims to impose new rules on college sports. The president also appeared to long for a return to the 'old system' of simple scholarships for athletes.

  • A week ago, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
  • On Thursday, Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States.

Nick Saban

Former head football coach at the University of Alabama.

Greg Sankey

Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Pete Bevacqua

Athletic director at the University of Notre Dame.

Marco Rubio

The Secretary of State under President Trump.

Susie Wiles

White House chief of staff under President Trump.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just a football coach.”

— Nick Saban, Former Alabama football coach

“If this doesn't work, colleges are going to be destroyed.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

Trump said he would draft an executive order on college sports if Congress does not pass legislation like the SCORE Act, which aims to impose new rules on college athletics.

The takeaway

Trump's focus on college sports amid major foreign policy challenges like the Iran conflict highlights his longstanding concerns about changes to NCAA rules that have allowed college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness. The discussion underscores the president's belief that these issues are critically important, even as the nation faces other pressing global matters.