Big 12's Brett Yormark backs SCORE Act after White House meeting

Yormark says the SCORE Act is the best path forward for college athletics after meeting with Trump and other officials

Mar. 10, 2026 at 10:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark called his meeting with President Donald Trump and other high-level officials from the NCAA, its member institutions, and the CEO of the U.S. Olympic team 'very constructive.' Yormark underscored his belief that the SCORE Act is the best path forward for college athletics, as it would provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption and preempt state laws regarding name, image and likeness (NIL) payments.

Why it matters

The spiraling costs associated with the introduction of NIL payments into college athletics have become a major issue, and there is disagreement over the role the federal government should play in solving these problems. The SCORE Act, which has Trump's support, is one proposed solution, but it faces opposition from many Democrats and critics who argue it amounts to a giveaway to the NCAA and its most powerful schools.

The details

Yormark said the SCORE Act offers federal protection, liability protection so the NCAA can enforce its rules, strong student-athlete protections, and a declaration that student-athletes are not employees. While the SCORE Act doesn't stop anyone from suing, Yormark believes it does offer schools a certain level of protection amid a growing number of lawsuits being filed by athletes across the country.

  • The meeting with President Trump took place last week at the White House.
  • Trump said he would draft an executive order on college sports within a week of the meeting.

The players

Brett Yormark

The commissioner of the Big 12 Conference.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States.

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body for college sports in the United States.

SCORE Act

A proposed federal bill that would provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption and preempt state laws regarding name, image and likeness (NIL) payments.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Coming out of that meeting, I think there's real momentum for the SCORE Act, and we need it. I think it's the best path forward. It provides us with meaningful guiding principles when you think about federal legislation.”

— Brett Yormark, Big 12 Commissioner

“The whole educational system is going to go out of business because of this.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

Trump is expected to draft an executive order on college sports within a week of the meeting with Yormark and other officials.

The takeaway

The debate over the role of the federal government in addressing the challenges posed by name, image and likeness payments in college athletics continues, with the SCORE Act emerging as a potential solution despite facing opposition from some lawmakers. The meeting between Yormark, Trump, and other key stakeholders underscores the urgency of finding a path forward that balances the interests of student-athletes, schools, and the broader college sports ecosystem.